title: Endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment of severe radiation injury of the lower gastrointestinal tract: long-term follow-up.
abstract: We report a series of patients with severe radiation injury treated with endoscopic laser photocoagulation. Eight patients with recurrent lower gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to procosigmoiditis were treated with endoscopic Nd:YAG laser therapy. Patients were followed for an average of 21.7 months after the first laser treatment. Average transfusion requirements and hospital admissions per patient-month were 0.93 and 0.27, respectively, in the prelaser period and 0.18 and 0.06, respectively, in the entire period following the first laser treatment. A total of 26 laser treatments were performed. There were three major (prolonged ileus) and one minor (pain) complication. We conclude that endoscopic Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation is a safe, effective, and lasting treatment in severe, symptomatic radiation injury of the lower gastrointestinal tract.
authors.affiliation: William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan 48072.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dwyer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003092:Colitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008028:Light Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011350:Proctocolitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors