Related Experiment Videos
[Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy in patients aged eighty years or older].
A Kirchgatterer1, D Hubner, G Aschl
1I. Interne Abteilung/Gastroenterologie, Allgemeines öffentliches Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Schwestern vom Heiligen Kreuz, Wels, Austria. andreas.kirchgatterer@khwels.at
Zeitschrift Fur Gastroenterologie
|January 9, 2003
Summary
Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy is safe and feasible for patients over 80. This study highlights the importance of these procedures in geriatric patients, revealing frequent diagnoses like colorectal carcinoma, with over half operable curatively.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Endoscopic Procedures
Context:
- Increasing elderly population necessitates more endoscopic examinations.
- Assessing the relevance of endoscopy in geriatric patients is crucial for indications, feasibility, and treatment outcomes.
- Understanding the specific challenges and benefits of lower gastrointestinal endoscopy in octogenarians is vital.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the indications, feasibility, therapeutic consequences, and complication rates of lower gastrointestinal endoscopy in patients aged 80 years and older.
- To determine the diagnostic yield and clinical significance of colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies in the geriatric population.
Summary:
- A retrospective analysis of 951 lower gastrointestinal endoscopies (colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies) in patients over 80 years old was conducted.
- Common indications included abdominal pain, bleeding, constipation, and anemia. Frequent findings were diverticular disease, polyps, and colorectal carcinoma.
- The completion rate for colonoscopy was 71%, with a low complication rate of 0.6%. Notably, 55% of colorectal cancer patients underwent curative surgery.
Impact:
- Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy is a feasible and safe procedure in geriatric patients, with a low complication rate.
- The high rate of significant findings, including colorectal carcinoma, underscores the importance of endoscopic screening and diagnosis in this age group.
- Early detection and treatment of conditions like colorectal cancer in elderly patients can lead to favorable surgical outcomes.