[Endoscopic cholangiopancreatography in the elderly: a prospective comparative study in northern Mexico].
BACKGROUND
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a widely used technique for the diagnosis and treatment of bilio-pancreatic diseases. According to Mexican Statistics, there is increasing life expectancy in Mexican population. The incidence of biliary tract pathologies is also increasing, leading to an increased demand of ERCP.


OBJECTIVE
Compare the utility and safety of ERCP in elderly and younger patients.


METHODS
Prospective and comparative study including 450 patients who underwent ERCP during 2007. Patients were divided into two groups: 65 years age and older (group A) and less than 65 years old (group B). We registered gender, age, indication and length of the endoscopic procedure, morbidity and mortality.


RESULTS
Mean patient age was 74.5 ± 6.9 and 43.0 ± 13.5 years old in groups A and B respectively. Choledocholithiasis was the more frequent diagnosis in both groups (48.62 %), followed by benign biliary stenosis (22.02 %) and malignant biliary obstruction (16.28 %). In 428 patients (98.16%) therapeutic procedures were performed. Endoscopic complications occurred in 1.37 % and there were not significant differences between groups (p = 0.218). There was no mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
ERCP is a safe procedure in elderly patients with a very low rate of complications and excellent therapeutic efficacy.
Güitrón-Cantú
A
A
Departamento de Endoscopía Digestiva, Hospital de Especialidades UMAE N° 71, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico. aguitron@prodigy.net.mx
Adalid-Martínez
R
R
Gutiérrez-Bermúdez
J A
JA
Segura-López
F K
FK
García-Vázquez
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies