Gastrointestinal endoscopy in octagenarians.

Seventy-five patients, 80-90 years old, each having approximately three associated diseases, underwent a total of 104 gastrointestinal endoscopies. Of these, 73 were upper (29 emergencies) and 31 lower endoscopies (21 were rigid sigmoidoscopies). There were two very mild short-lived complications; vomiting and bleeding. We found 16 gastric ulcers, 16 duodenal or pyloric ulcers, and 11 cases of esophagitis. Bleeding duodenal (8) or gastric (4) ulcers and polyps or malignant tumors (7) were seen less often. In 34 of 68 lesions the endoscopic and x-ray findings were the same. In the other 34 there were 10 endoscopic failures to identify colonic diverticula, hiatus hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux that were seen radiologically. In 24 patients, diagnoses were not made radiologically, but were recognized at endoscopy. The safety and accuracy of endoscopy in the old and sick does not differ from that in younger patients.