Why some older adults stay longer in hospital after a bile duct procedure

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a crucial minimally invasive technique for the diagnosis and treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases. However, it remains technically demanding and carries a postoperative adverse event (AE) rate exceeding 10% (e.g., pancreatitis, bleeding, and perforation), which subsequently leads to prolonged length of stay (LOS) and increased healthcare costs. With the rapid acceleration of population aging, the clinical demand for ERCP among the elderly has surged. Although ERCP is generally considered safe for older adults, advanced age also increases the risk of ERCP-related AEs and prolonged LOS. While previous studies investigated the outcomes of ERCP in elderly patients, those studies were predominantly retrospective, accompanied by selection bias. Moreover, insufficient factors were included in those retrospective studies. Importantly, some aging-related parameters, such as frailty, functional reserve, cognitive and psychological status, were not included in previous studies. Therefore, the investigators conducted a prospective, multicenter cohort study aimed at investigating outcomes in elderly patients undergoing ERCP and comprehensive factors (patient-related, procedure-related, and geriatric factors) associated with adverse outcomes.