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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Assessment of Plasma Coagulation on Liver Tissue in a Large Animal Model In Vivo
Published on: August 4, 2018
The incidence of bacteraemia after argon plasma coagulation in patients with chronic radiation proctocolitis
1Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. luciano.lenz@terra.com.br
Aim:
Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is considered a safe treatment for haemorrhagic chronic radiation proctocolitis (CRPC), but bacteraemia is a rare complication. The study aimed to evaluate the frequency of bacteraemia after APC.
Method:
A prospective study of 21 patients who underwent APC (30 procedures) for CRPC was carried out. Blood cultures (Bactec(®) ) were obtained before and 30 min after the procedure (60 samples total). Patients were monitored for 48 h after the procedure to detect signs of infection.
Results:
None of the 21 patients had fever or any sign suggestive of infection after any of the 30 sessions. All baseline blood cultures were negative and two (7%) of the 30-min blood cultures were positive (Staphylococcus hominis n = 1; Streptococcus bovis and Rhodotorula sp n = 1). The first was likely to be a contaminant and the second patient had no evidence of any other colonic disease (neoplasia or polyps) beside CRPC.
Conclusion:
APC is a low-risk procedure regarding bacteraemia and does not warrant prophylactic antibiotic administration.
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