The acute abdomen in the older person. Issue 1 (February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCarthy, K; Hardy, K; Ackermann, C; Hewitt, J
• Is Part Of: Scottish medical journal. Volume 58:Issue 1(2013)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 45
• Publication Date: 2013-02
• Subjects: Older people -- abdominal pain -- acute abdomen; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1177/0036933012474594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0036-9330

Abstract

The acute abdomen is a common condition in older people. Half of all presentations to hospital require admission, with a third requiring immediate surgery. The Royal College of Surgeons of England have reported a worryingly high mortality rate in the over 80s undergoing emergency surgery, with a 3-fold difference in mortality throughout the England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The aim of this article is to highlight the issues that older people face in relation to acute abdominal pathology.