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Are complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy age related?

G T Deans1, P Sedman, D F Martin

  • 1Stockport Unit for Minimally Invasive Therapy, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, UK.

Gut
|December 10, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Short-term complications after endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) are not age-related. Younger patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy can safely undergo ES without increased risk compared to older patients.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Endoscopic Procedures
  • Surgical Safety

Background:

  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography sphincterotomy (ES) is increasingly performed in younger patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  • The safety of ES in younger patient populations relative to older patients remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if short-term complications following ES are associated with patient age.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective multicenter audit of 1000 ES procedures in 958 patients (age range 14-97 years).
  • Complications were recorded and analyzed based on patient age groups.

Main Results:

  • Overall complication rate was 2.4% (24/1000), with 2 deaths (0.2%) from post-ES pancreatitis.
  • Patients under 65 years had a complication rate of 2.2% (6/281), while those over 65 had a rate of 2.6% (18/677).
  • No statistically significant age-related increase in complication risk was observed (RR 0.83 for <65 vs >65 years, p=0.74).

Conclusions:

  • Short-term complications following ES are not significantly related to patient age.
  • Younger patients, including those undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, should not be denied ES due to age-related safety concerns.
  • ES is a safe procedure across a wide age range, comparable to surgical exploration of the common bile duct.
Abstract

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