Is Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Safe in Elder patients?-A Single Center Experience

Abstract

Objectives: The endoscopic retrograde cholongiopancreatography (ERCP) process is canulization of papilla vateri radiolologically and imaging bilier tructs and pancreas duct by a lateral endoscope. ERCP process has some severe complications. In this study, we aimed to assess the safety of ERCP in elderly patients. Methods: This is a prospective study. Patients who performed ERCP in Afyon Kocatepe University Training and Research Hospital were included in order to determine the frequency of complications after ERCP and defining the risk factors and determiners for each complication. Results: A total of 60 patients (29 female and 31male) were included. The median age was 57.3. The most frequent ERCP indication was choledocholithiasis (60%). In 15% of patients were observed after ERCP. The major complication was cholangitis (8.3%). Pancreatitis (5%) were detected to be seen in subsequent frequency. All complications were observed to be increasing with sphincteratomy. Conclusion: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a safe and effective technique in elderly patients but endoscopists should be more careful about complications in elderly patients.