Emergency bowel surgery in the elderly

• Published in: The Turkish journal of gastroenterology Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 189 - 193
• Main Authors: Külah, Bahadir, Gülgez, Bariş, Ozmen, M Mahir, Ozer, M Vasfi, Coşkun, Faruk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey Türk Gastroenteroloji Vakfı 01.09.2003
• Subjects: Acil servis, hastane; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bağırsak delinmesi; Bağırsak hastalıkları; Cause of Death; Cerrahi prosedürler, operatif; Chi-Square Distribution; Cohort Studies; Colectomy - methods; Colectomy - mortality; Emergency Service, Hospital; Emergency Treatment - methods; Emergency Treatment - mortality; Female; Geriyedönük çalışma; Humans; Intestinal Diseases; Intestinal Diseases - mortality; Intestinal Diseases - pathology; Intestinal Diseases - surgery; Intestinal Neoplasms - mortality; Intestinal Neoplasms - pathology; Intestinal Neoplasms - surgery; Intestinal Obstruction - mortality; Intestinal Obstruction - pathology; Intestinal Obstruction - surgery; Intestinal Perforation; Male; Probability; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Surgical procedures, operative; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Yaşlı
• ISSN: 1300-4948

Emergency bowel operations are commonly performed in emergency units and carry high morbidity and mortality risk, particularly in elderly patients. The aim of the present study was to review the presentation, management and outcome of bowel emergencies in elderly patients. The records of 248 patients (91 females, 157 males) aged over 65 years, undergoing emergency bowel operation during a five-year period, were reviewed. Patient's age, sex, details of presentation, past medial history, presence of coexisting diseases, and type of surgical procedures were noted, and their effects/any unfavorable outcomes were all analyzed. Data were evaluated by using SPSS 9.0 for Windows statistical program. A p value less than 0.05 was accepted as significant. Mean age was 72.5 years. There were 85 (34%) isolated small bowel emergencies (SBE) and 153 (62%) isolated large bowel emergencies (LBE). The most common disease in SBE was mesenteric ischemia in 67 (27%), followed by adhesions, 26 (10%). Malignant bowel disease in 59 (24%) and sigmoid volvulus in 43 (17%) accounted for the majority of LBE. Sixty-five percent (161) of patients presented with obstruction and 46 (19%) patients had bowel perforation. Malignant disease, volvulus and mesenteric ischemia carried high resection rates (82%, 78% and 76%, respectively). Overall morbidity and mortality rates were 42% (105) and 28% (70), respectively. Emergency bowel operations have poor outcome in the elderly. Nature and extent of disease, presence of coexisting cardiopulmonary disease, late admission and presence of peritonitis significantly affect management and outcome of elderly patients with bowel emergencies.