Argon plasma coagulation: Clinical applications in Gastroenterology

Abstract

SUMMARY
Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a method of non-contact
endoscopic thermal coagulation. According to recent
data, it can safely be used in clinical practice and there are
indications that APC is undoubtedly preferable to laser
treatment in some cases. So, hemostasis of diffuse superficial
vascular lesions, such as angiodysplasia, gastric antral
vascular ectasias, radiation proctitis, bleeding ulcers
and obstructed stents are some of these clinical indications.
There is a lack of published experience of APC and ablation
therapy, such as large villous adenomas, rectal and
stomach cancer thus further studies are necessary to define
the results and technical details of the procedure.
Key words: Argon plasma coagulation, clinical indications,
hemostasis, tumour ablation