1. ARGON PLASMA COAGULATION TREATMENT IN RADIATION PROCTITIS PATIENTS.
- Author
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Schiller, Thea-Alexandra, Ciorba, Marius Ilie, and Grama, Paul
- Subjects
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RECTAL diseases , *ANEMIA , *GASTROINTESTINAL hemorrhage , *RADIATION injuries , *CHEMORADIOTHERAPY , *TREATMENT effectiveness , *CONFERENCES & conventions , *ELECTROCOAGULATION (Medicine) ,CERVIX uteri tumors - Abstract
Background: Radiation proctitis is a pathology of the rectum, usually developed as a result of radiotherapy of a pelvic tumour. Patients who develop radiation proctitis may present symptoms such as diarrhoea, faecal incontinence and mild bleeding in the acute stages. In chronic stages, complications that may occur include rectal strictures as well as ulceration and fistulisation of the rectum. The most common and efficient treatment method at the moment is endoscopic Argon plasma coagulation, which reduces the bleeding and consequently, the blood transfusion requirement. Objective: The objective of this presentation is to depict the evolution of a patient diagnosed with radiation proctitis after the second therapy session with Argon plasma coagulation. Material and methods: This presentation includes the case of a 86 year old female patient, diagnosed with radiation proctitis secondary to chemo- radiotherapy for a uterine cervix neoplasia. The pathology led to lower digestive tract hemorrhage and moderate secondary anemia. Such a complication of radiation proctitis is usually treated with Argon plasma coagulation. This treatment induces haemostasis and tissue reduction by devitalization. Argon plasma coagulation is a form of electrosurgery. The gas discharges of the argon have a thermal effect on the superficial tissue without coming in direct contact with it. At a 60-80°C temperature, the denaturation of intracellular proteins occurs. This process is called coagulation and it leads to cell necrosis. Results : The patient was stabilised after a blood transfusion and prepared through an enema for her second endoscopic Argon plasma coagulation session. The enema was not completely effective, and the patient was not very cooperant during the endoscopic procedure, which lead to limited treatment efficiency. Even so, numerous angiodysplasias of various dimensions were identified and treated with Argon plasma. Conclusions: The patient was stabilised, discharged, prescribed medication and recommended to follow a diet which would help in avoiding constipation or dehydration. The recommended re-evaluation time is a month later, at which point in time the patient may have a third argon plasma coagulation treatment session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024