Abstract:Objectives To investigate the safety and clinical observation of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) treatment for elderly patients with choledocholithiasis and periampullary diverticula.Methods Clinical data of 300 choledcholithiasis patients underwent ERCP, from June 2012 to June 2018 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were 80 years of age or older. The patients were divided into two groups: group A comprising 187 patients with duodenal diverticula, and group B comprising 113 patients without diverticula. The recurrence rate of choledocholithiasis, the difference of the recurrence rate in different type of duodenal diverticula, and the safety and complication of ERCP were compared between the two groups.Results The recurrence rate of choledocholithiasis in group A is higher than that in group B (32.08% vs 18.58%, P < 0.05). The recurrence rate in patients with duodenal papilla situated inside a diverticulum is higher than patients with periampullary position of diverticula and located between the two diverticula (P < 0.05). The stones were successfully removed in 279 (93.00%) patients. Due to lager stones, 48 patients were failure to remove the stone in one time, and were successfully removed at second time. There were 13 (4.33%) complications (eight hyperamylasemia, two cholangitis, and three mild acute pancreatitis). All these patients were recovered by internal treatment.Conclusion ERCP is a safe and effective intervention in patients 80 years of age or older. Duodenal diverticula can be associated with choledocholithiasis, especially in patients with duodenal papilla situated inside a diverticulum.