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PERITONITIS IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS
Author(s) -
Chaitin Horace,
Wienick Leopold
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1970.tb02836.x
Subject(s) - medicine , peritonitis , diverticulitis , pancreatitis , mortality rate , disease , surgery , general surgery , conservative treatment , appendicitis , peptic ulcer , population , environmental health
A bstract The diagnosis and management of peritonitis are becoming more and more important because of the great increase in our geriatric population. The mortality rate is particularly high among the aged. A series of 600 cases during a three‐year period is reported. The differential diagnosis involves numerous other diseases which may predominate in various age groups. It is essential to establish the cause of the peritonitis since the type of therapy depends upon the correct diagnosis. In cases of appendicitis, gall‐bladder disease, perforated peptic ulcer and mesenteric thrombosis, immediate operation is the treatment of choice. Conservative therapy gives the best results in pancreatitis or diverticulitis.