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Argon Plasma Coagulation

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Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures in Gastroenterology

Part of the book series: Clinical Gastroenterology ((CG))

Abstract

Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is an electrosurgical procedure in which electrical energy in the form of ionized argon gas is transferred to target tissue. The APC device uses non-contact thermal energy in the form of ionized gas or plasma for coagulation of the tissue. This technique was first used in open surgical and laparoscopic procedures nearly 2 decades ago. With the development of flexible probes and special electrical waveforms in 1990s, APC has been adopted for use in flexible endoscopy for the treatment of various gastrointestinal conditions. APC is an efficacious, safe, and easy-to-use method of hemostasis and devitalization of tissues. This chapter will discuss the indications and contraindications for APC, provide a detailed step-by-step description of the procedure, and an evidence-based review of the procedure.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology-Hepatology Fellowship Program, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA

    John W. Birk M.D.

  2. University of Connecticut School of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA

    Antarpreet Kaur MBBS

Authors
  1. John W. Birk M.D.
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  2. Antarpreet Kaur MBBS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antarpreet Kaur MBBS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Connecticut School of Medi, Farmington Ave. 236, Farmington, 06030-1845, Connecticut, USA

    George Y. Wu

  2. , Department of Gastroenterology, Medical College of Georgia, Fifteenth St. BBR-2544, Augusta, 30912, Georgia, USA

    Subbaramiah Sridhar

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Birk, J.W., Kaur, A. (2011). Argon Plasma Coagulation. In: Wu, G., Sridhar, S. (eds) Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures in Gastroenterology. Clinical Gastroenterology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-044-7_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-044-7_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-478-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-044-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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