The geriatric acute abdomen.

An acute abdomen requires prompt diagnosis and therapy in all age groups. In the elderly population, rapid recognition is particularly important, because the patient may have delayed seeking medical care and may have uncommon illnesses complicating the ultimate course. The causes of an acute abdomen in this population are similar to those found in younger patients with some differences in frequency. In each case, a sense of urgency to make the proper diagnosis and then institute appropriate therapy is critical.