RISK OF FAILURE AND COMPLICATIONS OF ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY; COMPARISON OF ELDERLY AND YOUNG PAKISTANI PATIENTS

Aims Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedure, widely performed in patients, irrespective of age. The objective of the study was to compare the risk of failure and procedural complications in young and elderly patients.

Methods This cohort study was conducted at Holy Family Hospital, where all 362 patients who underwent the therapeutic or diagnostic ERCP performed, in the year 2014 were included and categorized as 276 young (aged 20-59 years) and 86 elderly (60 years and above) patients. The procedural and post procedural records of both study groups were followed up prospectively to compare the risk of failure of procedure and the complications during and after procedure.

Results Successful therapeutic intended procedures were observed in 95.08% of elderly and 97.32% of young patients. (RR of failure 0.64, CI 0.19-2.85, p value 0.47). Similarly Successful diagnostic intended procedures were performed in 88% of elderly and 91.1% of young patients. (RR of failure 1.35, CI 0.37-4.84, p value 0.64). At least one or more Procedural and post procedural complications were observed in 9.3% and 8.3% of elderly and young patients respectively (p value 0.77), where risk of complications was also observed to be the same with relative risk of 1.11 (CI 0.51-2.40)

Conclusions The success rates, risk of failure and complications of the procedure in elderly was same as that of young, providing evidence that it is an equally safe procedure for elderly too.

Publication History

Article published online:
14 April 2022