Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2011; 17(36): 4109-4112
Published online Sep 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i36.4109
Epinephrine plus argon plasma or heater probe coagulation in ulcer bleeding
Ahmet Karaman, Mevlut Baskol, Sebnem Gursoy, Edip Torun, Alper Yurci, Banu Demet Ozel, Kadri Guven, Omer Ozbakir, Mehmet Yucesoy
Ahmet Karaman, Mevlut Baskol, Sebnem Gursoy, Edip Torun, Alper Yurci, Banu Demet Ozel, Kadri Guven, Omer Ozbakir, Mehmet Yucesoy, Department of Gastroenterology, Erciyes University, 38030 Kayseri, Turkey
Author contributions: Karaman A, Ozel BD, Torun E, Yurci A researched the data; Baskol M and Gursoy S analyzed the data; Karaman A and Baskol M wrote the manuscript; Yucesoy M, Ozbakir O, and Guven K edited the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Ahmet Karaman, Department of Gastroenterology, Erciyes University, 38030 Kayseri, Turkey. drkaraman@hotmail.com
Telephone: +90-533-4834197 Fax: +90-352-4375273
Received: January 4, 2011
Revised: February 28, 2011
Accepted: March 7, 2011
Published online: September 28, 2011
Abstract

AIM: 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).

CONCLUSION: APC is an effective hemostatic method in bleeding peptic ulcers. Larger multicenter trials are necessary to confirm these results.

Keywords: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding; Argon plasma coagulation; Heater probe coagulation; Duodenal ulcer; Gastric ulcer