Interest of Argon Plasma Coagulation in Digestive Angiodysplasia Lesions: A Study of 38 Cases

Digestive angiodysplasia is a vascular development abnormality of the digestive tract, which can manifest as gastrointestinal bleeding or chronic anemia. Effective therapeutic intervention is necessary to improve symptoms and limit long-term complications. The reference technique is argon plasma coagulation (APC), which allows for simple, rapid, precise, and reliable treatment with minimal side effects and complications. The objective of our study is to evaluate this technique, its effectiveness, and its potential complications. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 38 patients with digestive angiodysplasia treated with APC at the Gastroenterology I Department of Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital in Rabat between November 2020 and November 2022. Results: The average age of patients was 68 years, with a male predominance (24 men, 14 women). 60% of patients presented with upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding associated with an anemic syndrome, while 40% had isolated anemia. All patients were treated with APC, with an average of 1.5 sessions per patient. The technique was successful without any complications. Two patients experienced therapeutic failure and were placed on second-line medical treatment. Conclusion: APC is a successful technique, making it an important tool in the management of digestive angiodysplasia. It presents minimal and rare side effects and complications.