Cholangioscopy Is Safe and Feasible in Elderly Patients

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Interventional Endoscopy
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Cholangioscopy is a common tool during ERCP, but its safety in elderly patients is not well-defined.
• This study addresses the need to establish the safety and feasibility of cholangioscopy in geriatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and feasibility of single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC) in elderly patients undergoing ERCP.
• To compare complication rates and outcomes of SOC in patients aged over 75 years versus younger cohorts.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of ERCPs with SOC was conducted across three tertiary referral hospitals.
• Patients were stratified into three groups: <65 years, 65-75 years, and >75 years.
• Statistical analysis included ANOVA, chi-squared, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests to compare outcomes.

Main Results:

• While baseline comorbidities were higher in the >75 group, indications and findings varied across age groups.
• The overall success rate for SOC was 88.5% and did not significantly differ between age groups.
• The overall complication rate was 7.33%, with no statistically significant difference observed among the younger and elderly patient groups.

Conclusions:

• Single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC) is a safe and feasible procedure for elderly patients, including those over 75 years.
• Complication and hospital admission rates for elderly patients undergoing SOC are comparable to those of younger patients.