[A study of endoscopic therapy for bile duct stones in elderly patients]

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic therapy for bile duct stones in elderly patients aged over 80 years.

We enrolled 20 elderly patients aged over 80 years and 50 patients who were younger than 79 years of age who had received their first endoscopic therapy for bile duct stones at our hospital from February 2012 to December 2013. A retrospective analysis was performed which included the following clinical parameters: the use of antithrombotic drugs; a past history of abdominal surgery; performance status (PS); the shortest diameter of the largest stone; and the total number of stones. The treatment outcomes of operations with endoscopic sphincterotomy, endoscopic papillary balloon dilation, or endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation were compared. The operative time, complete stone clearance rate, operative success rate (complete stone clearance or bile duct stent insertion), and adverse events were compared as treatment outcomes.

There was no significant difference in the use of antithrombotic drugs, past history of abdominal surgery, number of stones, or treatment received between the age groups, while PS was significantly lower, and the diameter of the largest stone was significantly greater in the patients over 80 years of age. The operative time, complete stone clearance rate, operative success rate, and the number of adverse events did not differ significantly between the age groups.

Endoscopic therapy for bile duct stones was found to be safe and effective in elderly patients over 80 years of age.