ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the clinical values of applying contact-mode argon plasma coagulation (APC) for retroflex colonoscopic treatment of ultra-lower rectal polyps. Methods 46 wide outsole and applanate polyps smaller than 1.0 cm located at ultra-lower rectum in 17 cases of patients were treated by contact-mode APC under U-type retroflex colonoscopy after failure in regular colonoscopic treatment. Then observe the contacting rate of APC probe with polyps, success rate of curing polyps, rate of probe being adhered and blocked by the solidification structures, incidence of submucosal emphysemas, and incidence of colonoscope ambustion. Results Under U-type retroflex colonoscopy, the probe could contact with polyps in 17 patients. The polyps in every patient were cured by APC in the first time of colonoscopic treatment, whereas all 46 polyps were cured by 97 times of APC spurt. Mild adhesions occurred between the probe and solidification structures at 5 times (5.15 %) among 97 times of APC spurt, without injuries to the coagulation surface from which when the probe separated. The solidification structures blocked the probe only twice (2.06 %). When the solidification structures were cleared, efficiency of the probe restored. No sub-mucosal emphysemas and colonoscope ambustion happened. Conclusion Applying contact-mode APC for retroflex colonoscopic treatment of ultra-lower rectal polyps is safe and effective, it can prevent the damage of colonoscope from the argon knife.