Introduction:

appendicitis remains the most assisted intra-abdominal surgical emergency; its diagnosis in the elderly is more difficult due to atypical presentations and comorbidities.

Objective:

to characterize epidemiologically, clinically and anatomopathologically geriatric patients operated on for acute appendicitis.

Methods:

an observational, descriptive investigation of a series of cases was carried out. Eighty-nine patients older than 60 years old operated for acute appendicitis and discharged alive were included in the study. A documentary review of medical records and biopsy reports was carried out and epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological variables were defined.

Results:

patients between 60 and 69 years of age (66.2%) and male sex (58.4%) predominated. There was a higher number of patients operated in less than 24 hours (39, 43.8%) with a diagnosis of acute catarrhal appendicitis. Postoperative complications were dominated by surgical wound sepsis (7.86%) and pneumonia (5, 61%). The most frequent anatomopathologic diagnosis was acute catarrhal appendicitis (43, 48.3%).

Conclusions:

a greater number of patients were diagnosed and operated before 24 hours. The delay in diagnosis and treatment coincided with anatomopathological findings of complicated appendicitis. Several clinical and surgical complications were less frequent in other age groups.

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