Argon plasma coagulation administered via probe through the colonoscope at an angiodysplasia in the colon. The patient had multiple colonic angiodysplasiae in the setting of aortic stenosis.

Argon plasma coagulation or APC is a medical endoscopic procedure used primarily to control bleeding from certain lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. It is administered during esophagogastroduodenoscopy or colonoscopy. Colon has several meanings: colon (anatomy) colon (punctuation) colon (rhetoric) See also Colón This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Heydes syndrome is a syndrome of aortic valve stenosis associated with gastrointestinal bleeding from colonic angiodysplasia. ... Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is a heart condition caused by the incomplete opening of the aortic valve. ... Endoscopic images of a duodenal ulcer Endoscopy means looking inside and refers to looking inside the human body for medical reasons. ... The gastrointestinal tract or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within multicellular animals which takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste. ... In medicine (gastroenterology), esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or upper endoscopy is a diagnostic endoscopic procedure that visualises the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. ... Colonoscopy is the minimally invasive endoscopic examination of the large colon and the distal part of the small bowel with a fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus. ...

APC involves the use of a jet of argon gas that is directed through a probe passed through the endoscope. As argon is a noble gas, it conducts electricity. The probe is placed at some distance from the bleeding lesion, and an electric current is passed through the probe. It is conducted through the jet of gas, resulting in coagulation of the bleeding lesion on other end of the jet. As no physical contact is made with the lesion, the procedure is safe, and can be used to treat bleeding in parts of the gastrointestinal tract with thin walls, such as the cecum. The depth of coagulation is usually only a few millimetres. General Name, Symbol, Number argon, Ar, 18 Chemical series noble gases Group, Period, Block 18, 3, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 39. ... Endoscopy means looking inside and refers to looking inside the human body for medical reasons. ... For the musical band, see Noble Gas (band) The noble gases are the chemical elements in group 18 (old-style Group 0) of the periodic table. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... In anatomy of the digestive system, the cecum or caecum is a pouch connected to the large intestine between the ileum. ...

APC is used to treat the following conditions:

• angiodysplasiae, anywhere in the GI tract
• gastric antral vascular ectasia, or watermelon stomach
• colonic polyps, after polypectomy
• radiation proctitis
• esophageal cancer

In medicine (gastroenterology), angiodysplasia is a small vascular malformation of the gut. ... Polyp of sigmoid colon as revealed by colonoscopy. ... Proctitis (Noun) Inflammation of the rectum. ... Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. ...

See also

• electrocautery