Comparison of the cardiovascular impacts of transnasal versus transoral gastroscopy in the aged patients with or without hypertension.

Background/aims: The cardiovascular impacts of gastroscopy in the aged patients are not neglectable, especially for those with hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the different cardiovascular impacts of transnasal and transoral gastroscopy in the aged patients with or without hypertension.

Methods: 120 aged patients (age >65 years) who had gastroscopy indication were recruited. Transnasal or transoral gastroscopy was employed for each subject. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded.

Results: In those patients with normal-tension during transoral gastroscopy examination, HR and BP increased and SaO, decreased, about 1/3-1/2 patients exhibited ECG changes of sinus tachycardia, ectopic rhythm and myocardial ischemia. The changes of HR and BP were more marked in those patients with hypertension during transoral gastroscopy examination, and a greater proportion of patients exhibited the above ECG changes. The maximal increment of HR, systolic BP, diastolic BP and SaO2, as well as ECG changes, significantly decreased in those hypertension patients during transnasal gastroscopy compared with those during transoral gastroscopy, and these changes remained similar to those normal-tension patients during transoral gastroscopy examination.

Conclusions: The cardiovascular impacts of transoral gastroscopy in the aged patients are not neglectable, transnasal gastroscopy examination, the cardiovascular impacts of which are smaller, is relatively safe for those aged hypertension patients.