Efficacy and complications of argon plasma coagulation for hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis

Table 1 Univariate analysis of factors associated with argon plasma coagulation treatment failure for hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis.

Variable	No. of failure/total patients	P-value
Distribution of telangiectasias
Distal rectum (within 10 cm from anal verge)	7/31	0.1361
Entire rectum +/− sigmoid (more than 10 cm from anal verge)	7/14
Surface area covered by telangiectasias
Less than 50%	2/19	0.0112
More than 50%	12/26
Presence of fresh blood
No	3/16	0.3201
Yes	11/29
Ulceration
< 1 cm2	6/33	0.0061
> 1 cm2	8/12
Gender
Female	14/40	0.3053
Male	0/5
Hypertensive
No	11/39	0.3563
Yes	3/6
Diabetic
No	11/40	0.1663
Yes	3/5
Abdominal surgery
No	11/33	0.8651
Yes	3/12
Acute radiation injury
No	14/39	0.1563
Yes	0/6
Requiring blood transfusions
No	7/30	0.2101
Yes	7/15
Number of APC
1	11/33	0.8651
≥ 2	3/12
Age, yr
< 60	8/22	0.4572
≥ 60	6/23
BMI at the first treatment of APC, kg/m2
< 21	7/21	0.7632
≥ 21	7/24
Time from the end of radiotherapy to bleeding, mo
< 8	6/17	0.6372
≥ 8	8/28
Time from the end of radiotherapy to the first time of APC, mo
< 14	8/23	0.5862
≥ 14	6/22

¹Data were calculated using continuity correction;

²Data were calculated using the χ² test;

³Data were calculated using the Fisher exact test.

APC: Argon plasma coagulation; CRP: Chronic radiation proctitis; BMI: Body mass index.

Table 2 Univariate analysis of factors associated with argon plasma coagulation treatment complications for hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis

Variable	No. of complication/total patients	P-value
Distribution of telangiectasias
Distal rectum (within 10 cm from anal verge)	4/31	1.0002
Entire rectum +/− sigmoid (more than 10 cm from anal verge)	2/14
Surface area covered by telangiectasias
Less than 50%	2/19	1.0002
More than 50%	4/26
Presence of fresh blood
No	1/16	0.3992
Yes	5/29
Ulceration
< 1 cm2	2/33	0.0352
> 1 cm2	4/12
Gender
Female	5/40	0.5292
Male	1/5
Hypertensive
No	4/39	0.3671
Yes	2/6
Diabetic
No	4/40	0.1252
Yes	2/5
Abdominal surgery
No	6/33	0.1712
Yes	0/12
Acute radiation injury
No	6/39	0.6991
Yes	0/6
Requiring blood transfusions
No	3/30	0.3842
Yes	3/15
Number of APC
1	5/33	1.0002
≥ 2	1/12
Age, yr
< 60	1/22	0.1872
≥ 60	5/23
BMI at the first treatment of APC, kg/m2
< 21	3/21	1.0002
≥ 21	3/24
Time from the end of radiotherapy to bleeding, mo
< 8	2/17	1.0002
≥ 8	4/28
Time from the end of radiotherapy to the first time of APC, mo
< 14	4/23	0.6652
≥ 14	2/22

¹Data were calculated using continuity correction;

²Data were calculated using the Fisher exact test.

APC: Argon plasma coagulation; CRP: Chronic radiation proctitis; BMI: Body mass index.