Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in patients aged 85 years or more. Results of a feasibility study in a district general hospital.

We performed a cross sectional analysis of the feasibility and yield of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) in a cohort of patients aged 85 years or more. The study involved 218 patients who underwent diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in a district general hospital between 1994 and 1998. Indication, use of sedation, endoscopic findings and treatment after endoscopy were evaluated. Indications for gastroscopy were suspicious of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGI) bleeding (41%), anemia (15%), and presence of dyspeptic- (31%), alarm- (9%) and/or reflux symptoms (3%). Serious UGI disease (cancer, peptic ulcer, reflux oesofagitis and/or erosive gastritis/duodenitis) was detected in 97 patients (44%). With respect to clinical presentation, serious UGI disease was present in 61% with bleeding, in 57% with reflux symptoms, in 42% with alarm symptoms, in 33% with anemia and in 28% with dyspepsia. Carcinoma was detected in eight patients (3.8%), all of them were treated with supportive care. In very old people gastroscopy is generally performed on sound indications reveals serious UGI disease in almost one out of two patients, markedly influences medical treatment, and reveals low malignancy rates (3.8%). In these patients, UGE is worthwhile and should not be omitted because of age considerations.