Clinical Usefulness of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in Elderly Patients: Retrospective Study

Sun Young Yi

Copyright ⓒ 2007. Ewha Womans University School of Medicine. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Mar 30, 2007

Abstract

Objectives

As the general population ages increase leading to an increase in the demand for therapeutic ERCP interventions. The aims of this study are to assess the outcomes, safety and complications associated with ERCP performed in elderly patients.

Methods

ERCP was performed in 287 patients aged 70years or over from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2005. All the patients were evaluated and retrospectively reviewed. The main indications, complications, success rate, mortality and risk factors of procedure were analysed.

Results

287 patients(162 females and 122 males, mean age 78 years, range 70-94years) underwent diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP. Mortality rate was 0.03% and success rate was 91.7%. Minor complications including procedure-related complications such as pancreatitis(2.8%), minor bleeding(1.4%), and aggravated cholangitis(2.1%), mild hypoxia(SaO₂ < 90%, 15.1%), premature ventral contraction(1.0%), and tachycardia(50.7%) were transient. Major events were presented as severe hypoxia(SaO₂ < 85%) in three pts(1.0%), and atrial fibrillation in one patients (0.03%).

Conclusions

This study showed that diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP is safe in elderly patients. Minor complications are usually transient and mortality is similar to previous reported rate.

Keywords: Elderly patients; Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)