Argon plasma coagulation

Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a non-contact thermal method  that has generated much attention and excitement in recent years  and is used to treat bleeding. It is very useful in patient who have recurrent low iron or anaemia without a clear cause. At endoscopy and colonoscopy we find fine friable vessels inside the bowel called angioectasia. Argon plasma coagulation is the ideal way of treating this fine bleeding vessels in a safe and efficient way.

It was introduced as an alternative to contact thermal coagulation and to existing non-contact technologies (primarily laser). The l advantages of APC include its ease of application, speedy treatment of multiple lesions in the case of angiodysplasias or wide areas (the base of resected polyps or tumor bleeding) and safety due to reduced depth of penetration.