title: Prospective evaluation of a new high-power argon plasma coagulation system (hp-APC) in therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate a new high-power argon plasma coagulation system (hp-APC) in therapeutic gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February to June 2005, 216 patients (167 M (77.3%), mean age 66 years) underwent treatment with hp-APC in a total of 275 sessions. Main indications were additive ablation therapy in Barrett's esophagus, palliative treatment of esophageal cancer, gastric polyps/carcinomas, angiodysplasias, Zenker's diverticula, and duodenal adenomas. The new hp-APC device (VIO 300 D with APC 2) was used (15-120 W) in upper GI endoscopy, push-enteroscopy, and double-balloon enteroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of treatment sessions required was 1.7 (1-5). For palliative tumor ablation in the esophagus, the number of sessions was 2.3 (1-5). Minor complications (pain, dysphagia, neuromuscular irritation, asymptomatic gas accumulation in the intestinal wall) were observed in 29/216 patients (13.4%). Major complications (perforation, stenosis occurred) in 2 patients (0.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hp-APC appears to be safe and effective in the treatment of various GI condition using different types of endoscopes including double-balloon enteroscopy. Because of the low number of treatment sessions required, hp-APC could be used as an alternative to Nd:YAG laser treatment in tumor debulking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, HSK Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden, Germany. HSManner@gmx.de
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manner
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rabenstein
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pech
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nachbar
authors.forename: Markus D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Enderle
authors.forename: Liebwin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gossner
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ell
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000601:surgery; D001128:Argon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004379:Duodenal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000601:surgery; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016672:Zenker Diverticulum / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D001128:Argon