Epinephrine plus argon plasma or heater probe coagulation in ulcer bleeding.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of argon plasma coagulation (APC) and heater probe coagulation (HPC) in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.


METHODS
Eighty-five (18 female, 67 male) patients admitted for acute gastrointestinal bleeding due to gastric or duodenal ulcer were included in the study. Upper endoscopy was performed and HPC or APC were chosen randomly to stop the bleeding. Initial hemostasis and rebleeding rates were primary and secondary end-points of the study.


RESULTS
Initial hemostasis was achieved in 97.7% (42/43) and 81% (36/42) of the APC and HPC groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Rebleeding rates were 2.4% (1/42) and 8.3% (3/36) in the APC and HPC groups, respectively, at 4 wk (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
APC is an effective hemostatic method in bleeding peptic ulcers. Larger multicenter trials are necessary to confirm these results.
Department of Gastroenterology, Erciyes University, 38030 Kayseri, Turkey. drkaraman@hotmail.com
Ahmet
A
Karaman
Mevlut
M
Baskol
Sebnem
S
Gursoy
Edip
E
Torun
Alper
A
Yurci
Banu Demet
BD
Ozel
Kadri
K
Guven
Omer
O
Ozbakir
Mehmet
M
Yucesoy
D057908:Argon Plasma Coagulation; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000150:complications; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016558:Hemostasis, Endoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000150:complications; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D004837:Epinephrine