[Personal experiences with the use of the argon laser in gastroenterology]

The argon laser was used in 30 persons with various lesions of the alimentary canal. Of 17 patients with an intensive haemorrhage (gastric or duodenal ulcer, gastric erosions, haemorrhage after an endoscopic polypectomy) the treatment was successful in 15 cases. In 8 patients the basis of an endoscopically removed malignant rectosigmoid polyp was treated: in one case a recidivation developed, in the remaining 7 cases during the following 13 to 24 months no local recidivation was to be observed. Of the 4 patients with an obturating carcinoma (oesophagus, rectum) we were only once successful in removing the tumour masses and thus again rendering possible the passage. In the last patient in question a recidivation of a rectum carcinoma in the anastomosis was concerned, in which the prominuing tumour mass could be removed; after 20 months no other recidivation could be established.