Efficacy and Safety of Therapeutic ERCP for the Elderly with Choledocholithiasis: Comparison with Younger Patients

Objective To clarify the efficacy and safety of therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for the elderly with choledocholithiasis compared with younger patients. Methods Consecutive therapeutic ERCPs performed between 2005 and 2007 at our institution for 118 patients aged 80 years or older (group A) and 205 patients younger than 80 years old (group B) were retrospectively reviewed. Successful cannulation rate, complete stone clearance rate, complications and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Results Successful cannulation was achieved in 99.2% in group A versus 99.5% in group B. The complete stone clearance rate was significantly lower in group A than in group B (92.4% versus 99.0%, p