Palliation of oesophageal carcinoma using the argon beam coagulator

Oesophageal intubation occasionally fails to palliate inoperable carcinoma: some tumours are unsuitable for this procedure and others overgrow the tube. This study reports a series of nine patients (median age 79 (range 55-87) years) in whom the argon beam monopolar coagulator via a flexible endoscopic probe was used to ablate such tumours. Fourteen ablation procedures were performed. The endoscope was passed to the stomach at the end of each procedure. There were no complications; the median hospital stay was 2 (range 1-13) days. Thirteen procedures rendered the patients completely asymptomatic for a median of 6 (range 4-12) weeks. Six patients died a median of 14 (range 4-38) weeks after the first ablation, reflecting their limited life expectancy. The argon beam coagulator provides an effective alternative to laser ablation, being considerably cheaper and safer, while maintaining the minimally invasive nature of the palliation.