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Background : Biliary diseases represent particular diagnostic and therapeutic problems in elderly patients. Methods : Patients 90 years of age or older who underwent ERCP from January 1993 to September 2001 were studied retrospectively. Results : A total of 126 patients underwent 147 ERCP procedures (range 1–5 per patient). Twelve additional ERCPs were performed in 9 of the patients during follow-up because of recurrent symptoms. A total of 159 procedures were, therefore, available for analysis. The most frequent indications were suspicion of bile duct stones (46.8%) and obstructive jaundice (35.7%). Midazolam (95.6%) was used for conscious sedation and hyoscine (74.8%) for duodenal ileus. Patient tolerance of the procedure was good in 92.4% of sessions. Diagnoses included bile duct stones (54%), bile duct dilatation without any apparent obstruction (11.9%), and malignant stenosis (9.5%). Therapeutic procedures were indicated in 95.6% of diagnosed patients and completed in 96.3% of cases. Complications occurred in association with 2.5% of the ERCP procedures; the procedure-related mortality rate was 0.7%. Conclusions : ERCP in elderly patients is practicable. The complication rate is low, and therapeutic efficacy is good.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with hepatic hydatid cysts that have ruptured into the biliary tract. Methods: Over a 10-year period, 25 patients (11 men, 14 women, mean age 60 years) underwent treatment; 13 with no prior surgery were treated for biliary obstruction. Postoperative treatment was undertaken in 12 cases because of persistent drainage (8), duct obstruction (3), and postoperative pancreatitis (1). Results: In patients who had not undergone previous surgery, cholangiographic findings were hydatid vesicles in the biliary tract (6), dilation of the biliary tract (3), biliary fistula (2), distal stenosis (1), and purulent bile content after sphincterotomy (1). In all of these cases, sphincterotomy resolved duct obstruction with no complications. All patients with persistent postoperative drainage had a fistula tract between the biliary duct and the cavity, which was resolved by endoscopic treatment in all 8. The 3 patients with postoperative biliary obstruction had hydatid vesicles in the biliary tract, one with a long stenosis resembling sclerosing cholangitis, whereas the patient with postoperative pancreatitis had a distal stenosis. Satisfactory results were obtained with endoscopic sphincterotomy, although 1 patient required a biliary prosthesis. Conclusion: Endoscopic sphincterotomy resolves biliary obstruction and postoperative fistulae in most patients with hepatic hydatid cysts that have ruptured into the biliary tract. In some cases, a biliary prosthesis may be required. (Gastrointest Endosc 1998;48:593-7.)

Background Self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) are being increasingly used to solve malignant colorectal obstruction (MCRO). Patients can then either undergo scheduled surgery or have the stent left in place as a definitive palliative treatment. The majority of reports on the use of SEMS in MCRO come from single centers; therefore, its use in general endoscopic practice is not clearly known. Objective To study the use of SEMS for MCRO in a wide endoscopic practice. Design Retrospective study. Setting A survey was carried out among endoscopists in 13 hospitals in Spain (6 tertiary referral centers and 7 community hospitals). Patients Those who presented with MCRO. Interventions A total of 175 attempts to insert colorectal SEMS were made during a 12-month period (October 2003 to September 2004). Main Outcome Measures Technical and clinical success and possible differences according to the type of hospital. Results There was a mean of 1.2 attempts/mo per center (range, 2-0.5 attempts/mo per center). Insertion success was achieved in 162 (92.6%) and acceptable colonic decompression in 138 of 175 (78.8%) attempts and in 138 of 162 (85.1%) of successfully inserted stents. SEMS served as a bridge to scheduled surgery in 72 of 175 (41%) and as a palliative definitive treatment in 66 of 175 (37.7%). The major complication was perforation, which occurred in 7 of 175 occasions (4%) and led to death in 2 patients (1%). There were other less severe complications (25 [14%]). No significant differences in outcome of stent placement procedures were found between both categories of centers. Limitations Retrospective study involving many centers and the possibility of bias for different assessments of outcomes. Conclusions In this study, success rates for SEMS placement and colonic decompression in MCRO were acceptable, without substantial differences according to the type of hospital. This procedure appeared to be feasible in general endoscopic practice.