Long-term outcome after argon plasma coagulation of small-bowel lesions using double-balloon enteroscopy in patients with mid-gastrointestinal bleeding

Background and study aims: Vascular malformations are the most common sources of bleeding in the small bowel. They can be treated with argon plasma coagulation (APC) during double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE). This study aimed to evaluate the long-term follow-up of the effectiveness of APC for small-bowel bleeding by means of a single-center retrospective study.

Patients and methods: Between June 2003 and December 2005, APC treatment for small-bowel lesions was carried out during DBE in 63 patients with known or suspected mid-gastrointestinal bleeding. Fifty patients were included in the analysis. Main outcome measurements were comparison of hemoglobin values and blood transfusion requirements before and after APC, and rebleeding rates.

Results: Twenty-nine patients (58 %) had only oral DBE, whereas 21 patients (42 %) underwent combined oral and anal approaches. The most frequent bleeding sources treated with APC were angiodysplasias in 44 patients (88 %). Hemoglobin levels increased distinctly and stabilized after APC during a mean long-term follow-up of 55 ± 7 months, with mean levels of 7.6 g/dL before APC and 11.0 g/dL afterwards. Blood transfusion requirements substantially declined, from 30 patients (60 %) before APC to 8 (16 %) afterwards. However, small-bowel bleeding recurred in 21 patients (42 %), particularly in patients with Osler disease (6 of 8 patients, 75 %).

Conclusions: Bleeding sources in the small bowel can be effectively treated with APC using DBE, and long-term follow-up data show a clear increase in hemoglobin levels and reduced blood transfusion requirements after APC. Further efforts are needed to reduce the rebleeding rate, possibly through more intensive initial treatment.

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