Argon plasma coagulation
| Argon plasma coagulation | |
|---|---|
multiple colonic angiodysplasiae in the setting of aortic stenosis. | |
| Other names | APC |
| Specialty | Gastroenterology |
Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a medical endoscopic procedure used to control bleeding from certain lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. It is administered during esophagogastroduodenoscopy or colonoscopy.
Medical use
APC involves the use of a jet of
kV).[1] High-frequency electric current is then conducted through the jet of gas, resulting in coagulation of the bleeding lesion. As no physical contact is made with the lesion, the procedure is safe if the bowel has been cleaned of colonic gases,[2][3] and can be used to treat bleeding in parts of the gastrointestinal tract with thin walls, such as the cecum. The depth of coagulation is usually only a few millimetres.[citation needed
]
APC is used to treat the following conditions:[citation needed]
- angiodysplasias, anywhere in the GI tract
- gastric antral vascular ectasia, or watermelon stomach
- colonic polyps after polypectomy
- radiation proctitis
- esophageal cancer
See also
- Electrocautery
References
- ^ "Post-Radiation Colitis". El Salvador Atlas of Gastrointestinal Video Endoscopy. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014.
- PMID 17879396.
- S2CID 9655672.
Further reading
- Peng Y, Wang H, Feng J, Fang S, Zhang M, Wang F, Chang Y, Shi X, Zhao Q, Liu J (2018). "Efficacy and Safety of Argon Plasma Coagulation for Hemorrhagic Chronic Radiation Proctopathy: A Systematic Review". Gastroenterology Research and Practice. 2018: 3087603. PMID 29681929.