Efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients over 75 years of age

BACKGROUND: To investigate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in elderly choledocholithiasis patients compared with younger groups. METHODS: This was a case–control study conducted from January 2018 to December 2020 at Fuyang People’s Hospital, with 596 patients included. Patients who underwent ERCP were classified as two groups based on age stratification definitions from the National Institute of Health and the World Health Organisation: Patients <75 ages (n = 204) and patients ≥75 ages (n = 392). Demographic characteristics, details of endoscopic therapy, complications were retrospectively reviewed and compared between two groups. The subgroup was pre-formed to further explore the efficacy and safety of ERCP in the elderly population. RESULTS: Between patients ≥75 ages and patients <75 ages, there were no significant differences in the complete stone removal rate and a second ERCP. Intubation difficulty (odds rate [OR]: 1.723, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.118–2.657) and longer ERCP operation time (β = 4.314, 95% CI: 2.366–6.262) were observed in the elderly group at a higher frequency than the younger group. Elder patients were more likely to have intra-operative complications (χ(2) = 18.158, P < 0.001), and post-operative complications (χ(2) = 8.739, P = 0.003). In the subgroup group, ERCP was efficacious and safe in elderly patients with comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP may be efficaciously performed on elderly patients. However, intra-operative and post-operative complications of ECRP should also be taken into consideration when selecting therapeutic options.