title: The safety and efficacy of single balloon enteroscopy in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Single balloon enteroscopy (SBE) is an important tool in the management of small bowel disease with limited data available on its performance in the elderly. We aimed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes of SBE in the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed on 366 patients undergoing 428 SBEs from 2010 to 2014. Patients were divided into different age groups: control <55, 55-64, 65-74 and ⩾75 years. Data on comorbidities, complications, findings, diagnostic and therapeutic yield were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anterograde and retrograde SBE were performed in 340 and 49 patients, respectively, with 63 patients requiring more than 1 procedure. Diagnostic yield was significantly higher for age ⩾75 years compared with <55, 66.3% versus 50%, odds ratio (OR) 1.97 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-3.41]. Therapeutic yield was significantly higher in all three older age groups compared with <55 years, 20.3%: 55-64 years, 44.4%, OR 3.13(95% CI 1.7-5.78); 65-74 years, 42%, OR 2.84 (95% CI 1.59-5.06); and >75 years, 47.5%, OR 3.55 (95% CI 1.96-6.43). No significant difference was seen between age groups in complications or failures. Our overall complication rate was 2.3% with 5 minor and 5 major complications. There was a higher yield of angioectasias in the elderly. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) and multipolar electrocoagulation were used more often in older age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SBE is safe in elderly patients and delivers higher diagnostic and therapeutic yields compared to younger patients. The elderly are more likely to have angioectasias and undergo APC and electrocoagulation.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, 17 Davis Blvd, Suite 308, Tampa, FL 33606, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Davis-Yadley
authors.affiliation: Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lipka
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Kirbylee K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Morsani College of Medicine Medical School, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Vignesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Doraiswamy
authors.affiliation: Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Roshanak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabbanifard
authors.affiliation: Evidence Based Medicine and Research Outcomes, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ambuj
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Brady
keywords: efficacy; elderly; safety; single balloon enteroscopy