title: Safety of endoscopic ultrasonography in elderly patients: a single center prospective trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the safety of both diagnostic and therapeutic endosonography (EUS) in geriatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population, consisting of 222 patients who underwent endosonographic evaluation for different indications, was divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 165 patients, ≥ 65 years old; Group II consisted of 57 controls, <65 years old. The demographic information with clinical parameters, procedure medication used and complications was noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of Group I was 72 years (range 65-93 years) vs. 46 years (range 26-64 years) for Group II. Female-to-male ratio was 82/83 in Group I, while 32/25 in Group II. Pulse rate (84 vs. 89 beats/min, p = 0.024) and basal oxygen saturation (94 vs. 97 %, p < 0.001) levels were lower in Group I when compared with the control group, while systolic blood pressure measurements (150 vs. 130 mmHg, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in Group I. No cases of procedure-related bleeding, perforation and mortality were observed in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the well-known relative increased procedural risks, advanced age is not a contraindication for advanced endoscopic interventions. EUS can be regarded as a safe and effective procedure in ≥ 65 years old population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Teaching and Research Hospital, Kizilay Sok. No:4, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mevlut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oguz
authors.forename: Erkin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oztas
authors.forename: Ismail Hakki
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kalkan
authors.forename: Abdurrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sayilir
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Beyazit
authors.forename: Nurgul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasmaz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies