Acute abdominal disease in the aged.

The elderly patient with acute abdominal disease may present with a classical clinical picture. However, the presentation often is atypical and perplexes the physician. The factors involved include altered anatomical features, fear of being placed in an institution, difficulty in communicating with the physician and family members, diminished response to infection, and multiple coexisting diseases. Awareness of the atypical clinical presentations and the judicious use of special investigations will enable the clinician to make earlier and more accurate diagnoses and, thus, reduce morbidity and mortality.