Safety and Efficacy of ESWL for Geriatric Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis

Safety and Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Geriatric Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis

Pancreatic extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (P-ESWL) is recommended as the first-line treatment for pancreatic stones. However, how well P-ESWL performs in geriatric patients remains unclear. The investigators aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of P-ESWL for geriatric patients with chronic pancreatitis.

This prospective observational study was conducted in patients with painful chronic pancreatitis who underwent P-ESWL. Patients aged over 65 years were included in the geriatric group; patients aged under 65 years who underwent P-ESWL in the same period were assigned to the control group. For investigation of long-term follow-up, the geriatric group were matched with patients from the control group in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcomes were P-ESWL complications and pain relief. The secondary outcomes included: stone clearance, physical and mental health, quality of life score, and body weight.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with painful chronic pancreatitis and radiopaque stones of ≥5mm.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a suspected or established malignant mass or pancreatic ascites, and pregnant patients.