Long- and short-term outcomes of ERCP for bile duct stones in patients over 80 years old compared to younger patients: a propensity score analysis.

UNLABELLED: Backgrounds and study aims: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is widely accepted as first-line therapy for bile duct stones (BDS). The major long-term pancreaticobiliary complication is BDS recurrence. Whether cholecystectomy should be performed after ES, especially in elderly patients, remains controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the short-term and long-term outcomes after therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for BDS and to analyze risk factors for pancreaticobiliary complications. We also compared long-term outcomes in patients older and younger than age 80. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1210 patients who underwent therapeutic ERCP for BDS were retrospectively reviewed to identify risk factors for pancreaticobiliary complications. We divided these patients into two groups: Group Y (< 80 years; 960 patients) and Group O (≥ 80 years; 250 patients). There were 192 matched pairs in the propensity score analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of pancreaticobiliary complications was 13.1 % (126/960) in Group Y and 20.4 % (51/250) in Group O (P < 0.00001). Multivariate analysis showed that a gallbladder left in situ with stones was a significant independent risk factor (hazard ratio, 2.81; 95 % confidence interval, 1.62 - 4,89; P = 0.0002). There were no significant differences in the incidence of pancreaticobiliary complications between the propensity score-matched groups. CONCLUSIONS: A gallbladder in situ with stones was the only significant risk factor for pancreaticobiliary complications after treatment for BDS. Age per se should not be the major factor when deciding on treatment that minimizes the occurrence of pancreaticobiliary disease.

[Case of small bowel angioectasia in which the resection site was angiographically detected using intraoperative dye infusion].

A 37-year-old Japanese man undergoing treatment for dilated cardiomyopathy was presented with weakness and melena. He had conjunctival pallor and difficulty in standing;his blood pressure was 81/62 mmHg. Abdominal computed tomography revealed contrast dye leakage into the small intestine. He was diagnosed with hemorrhagic shock secondary to intestinal bleeding;we administered large volumes of intravenous fluid along with performing a blood transfusion. We then performed angiography to determine the site of bleeding angioectasia and placed a catheter into the affected artery. We identified the resection site using an intraoperative dye infusion via the catheter, and successfully performed small bowel resection. He was subsequently discharged without complications.