The Application Of Endoscopic Argon Plasma Coagulation In The Treatment Of Upper Gastrointestinal Telangiectasia

Objective:Telangiectasia in gastrointestinal tract was rare, especially in upper gastrointestinal, but recognized to cause gastrointestinal bleeding. The endoscopic Argon plasma coagulation (APC) was an important method to treat upper gastrointestinal telangiectasia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of APC in treating telangiectasia in upper gastrointestinal.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 13 patients with the upper gastrointestinal telangiectasia who were treated in hospital.6 patients were treated with APC, and other 7 patients were treated with only medicine. The clinical and endoscopic features were recorded. And the efficacy were observed and compared of two treatment methods.Results:There were 13 patients in total,7 were men,6 were women, with an average age of 63.15±13.76 years. The clinical manifestation of 11 patients were melena and 2 were haematemesis. The lesions in upper gastrointestinal tract located in gastric fundus (2/14), gastric body (4/14), gastric antrum (5/14), duodenal bulb (2/14) and the descending duodenum(1/14). One of these patients had two lesions. All 6 patients had a prominent rise in hemoglobin level from 69.50±13.63g/L to 97.75±13.77 g/L after the APC treatment (P<0.05), and no major complications were recorded. The hemoglobin level rose from 57.71±12.68g/L to78.71±10.32g/L with the conservative medical treatment (P<0.05). The average hospitalization day of the patients with APC was12.50±9.04 days, shorter than those received medical treatment. The rebleeding rate after APC treatment (0/6) was significantly lower than medical treatment (4/7) (P=0.026).Conclusions:APC is safe and effective in the endoscopic treatment modality of the upper gastrointestinal telangiectasia.