A Prospective Study of Common Surgical Problems in Geriatric Patient with Special Reference to Gastrointestinal Tract Diseases in Vindhya Region

ABSTRACT

Background: Aging is a continuous process which begins with conception and ends with death. It is said that nobody grows oldmerely by living a certain number of years, while aging merely stands for growing. The health problems to be considered shouldinclude – physical, mental, emotional, and socioeconomical. Old age is not a disease but the aged people are often vulnerableto long-term diseases such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, cancers, mental derangement,hearing and visual loss, and conditions affecting the locomotor system. Aim of this study is to analyze the common surgicalproblems in geriatric patient with special reference to gastrointestinal tract (GIT) diseases in Vindhya region.Materials and Methods: A total of 1585 cases were studied with common surgical geriatrics problems admitted in the surgicalwards in Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital associated with Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa (MP), India, in the periodfrom 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2019. The proposed study includes patients with age 60 years and above who will be admittedthrough surgical outpatient department, casualty and/or will be transferred from other departments. After admission of patients,particular will be recorded and they will be also inquired for chief complaints with duration, history, drug history, personal history,and family history. Their findings will be recorded in a pro forma.Results: Of 10,887 patients admitted in Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital associated with Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa(MP), India, during the period of 1 June 2018–31 May 2019, in which common surgical problems were diagnosed in 1585 patients(14.55%), among which most of the patients were males (1137) and rest were females (448). Most of the patients belonged to 60–64years of age group. From this study, intestinal obstruction among GIT diseases was found to be the most common surgical problem.Conclusion: Majority of elderly patients admitted with GIT disorders were having intestinal obstruction (22.17%), followedby PUD (21.47%), peritonitis (17.09%), malignant lesions and hemorrhoids (9.23%), and colitis (6.92%). Of sex-wise totaladmission. The incidence of intestinal obstruction (26.11% vs. 20.40%) and colitis (14.92% vs. 3.34%) was more common infemale than male. Whereas PUD (23.41% vs. 17.16%) and perforation peritonitis (19.06% vs.12.68%), hemorrhoids were morecommon in male than female.