Effectiveness and Safety of PRECISE APC for the Treatment of Bleeding Gastrointestinal Angiodysplasia - a Retrospective Evaluation

Background: APC is a thermal coagulation technique that uses ionized argon to transmit high-frequency electrical current, contact-free, to tissue. Precise APC is one of the new modes and is characterized by a small and distinctive energy input, higher reproducibility of tissue effects which is almost independent of the probe distance. The aim of the study was the evaluation of precise APC in patients with bleeding angiodysplasia's in the cecum or the small bowel. Aim/Methods: Patients (pts.) with bleeding angiodysplasia of the cecum or small bowel were prospectively enrolled. Effectivity and safety of APC was assessed by evaluating the local coagulation effect, number of rebleedings and transfusions and complications (perforation, infection). Results: There were 50 males and 44 females, median age 65.5 +/- 8.5 years. 58 pts. (62%) had lesions in the small bowel, 28 pts. (30%) lesions in the cecum and 8 pts. (8%) lesions in small bowel and cecum. All 234 visible lesions in 94 pts. were coagulated successfully. There was no perforation, active bleeding and tissue carbonization after the procedure. Re-bleeding was recognized in 18 pts. (19%) after a mean follow-up of 6.1 months and new lesions in the same area were seen in 15/18 pts (16%). Conclusion: In a historical comparison to forced or pulsed APC, precise APC may be a more appropriate option for the treatment of bleeding angiodysplasia's in critical locations like the cecum or small bowel. The coagulation effect seems to be comparable and due to its better depth control we assume a better safety, especially in preventing perforations.