Background: Mechanical bowel obstruction is a common condition in geriatric patients in the emergency department. It accounts for up to 50% of all emergency surgeries in the elderly. In recent years, diagnosis and treatment of mechanical bowel obstruction has improved, but little is known whether elderly patients benefit from modern treatment approaches.
Objective: The aim of the work is to generate knowledge about possible improvement of diagnosis and treatment of mechanical bowel obstruction in the elderly.
Methods: A retrospective review of 132 patients was performed comparing geriatric (>80 years of age) and nongeriatric patients (50-70 years of age) admitted with mechanical bowel obstruction. Etiology, time from first contact to operation, bowel resection rate and morbidity/mortality were compared. Data analysis included Fisher's test and Student t‑test.
Results: In patients under 70 years of age it took 18.23 ± 0.79 h from first contact until laparotomy in the operating room (OR) vs. 43.38 ± 12.08 h in patients above 80 years of age (p = 0.0111). In 58.9% of geriatric patients, resection of bowel was necessary, while only 35.3% of <70-year-old patients needed bowel resection (p = 0.0401). In all, 50% of geriatric patients experienced major complications (Dindo/Clavien >IIIB) vs. only 12.7% of 50- to 70-year-old patients (p = 0.0002). Postoperative stay in the intensive care unit was significantly prolonged in geriatric patients compared to younger patients (93.97 ± 17.36 h vs. 26.11 ± 3.73 h, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions: Time from first contact in the emergency department until laparotomy in the OR is prolonged in geriatric patients, leading to a higher probability of bowel resection with greater morbidity and mortality. Diagnostics should be intensified and accelerated in geriatric patients. Emergency surgery should be considered earlier.
Keywords: Aged; Colorectal surgery; Emergency treatment; Morbidity; Mortality.