Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part G (2025)

Introduction: Acute abdomen is defined as a set of signs and symptoms based on severe abdominal pain of sudden or insidious onset and rapid progression (less than 24-48 hours). Diagnosis in older adults is more difficult, given that pathophysiological reactions are not as rapid or effective. Surgeons must be able to promptly identify potentially surgical pathologies to reduce geriatric morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To determine the etiological distribution of emergency surgical acute abdomen in older adults treated at HGZ Number 20 "La Margarita", Puebla.

Materials and Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective, homodemic, single-center study was conducted. Patients over 60 years of age who were admitted to the emergency department with a diagnosis of surgical acute abdomen were included. Data were obtained from the medical record and compiled using a Data Collection Instrument.

Results: A total of 99 patients, 52% women and 48% men, aged 60-93 years. The most common pathologies were intestinal occlusion, acute calculous cholecystitis, and complicated acute appendicitis, with a frequency of 11.1% each. When grouping all cases of appendicitis (complicated and uncomplicated), appendicitis was more frequent, at 19.18%. Complicated appendicitis predominated in men, and intestinal occlusion in women.

Conclusion: Our study observed a marked increase in cases of acute appendicitis, which variably influenced the distribution by sex and age.