senile acute appendicitis

Appendicitis, also known as cecitis, refers to an acute digestive system disease caused by inflammation of the appendix (cecum). If untreated, the mortality rate is high, mainly because it can lead to peritonitis, pylephlebitis, and septic shock. It has been recognized as the most common cause of acute abdominal (peritoneal) pain worldwide. With the aging of China's population, the incidence of acute appendicitis in the elderly is increasing. According to statistics, patients over 60 years old account for approximately 3% to 4% of all acute appendicitis cases. The mortality rate also increases with age, ranging from 5% to 20%. Although the incidence of acute appendicitis in the elderly is not high, complications are numerous and the mortality rate is relatively high. Blood vessels and lymphatics often show degenerative changes, and the appendix is prone to necrosis and perforation after inflammation. Symptoms and signs are often milder than the pathological changes. By the time of presentation, most patients already have gangrenous perforation or abscess formation. It is often combined with pathological changes or underlying diseases of other important organs, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. In elderly patients with acute appendicitis, symptoms are often not prominent at onset, abdominal pain is milder, and vomiting may also be absent.