Efficacy and safety of Nd. YAG laser for the treatment of bleeding from radiation proctocolitis

Background. Bleeding due to radiation proctocolitis is a frequent and severe complication of radiotherapy in cancers of the pelvis. Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment with Nd:YAG laser in this condition. Patients and Methods. A series of 9 pati...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inDigestive and liver disease Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 230 - 233
Main Authors Ventrucci, M., Di Simone, M.P., Giulietti, P., De Luca, G.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2001
Subjects
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Colonoscopy
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - surgery
Humans
Laser Coagulation - methods
Male
Middle Aged
Neodymium
Pelvic Neoplasms - diagnosis
Pelvic Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Proctocolitis - etiology
Proctocolitis - surgery
Prospective Studies
Radiation Injuries - diagnosis
Radiation Injuries - surgery
radiation proctitis
Risk Assessment
Treatment Outcome
YAG laser
radiation proctitis
Nd
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Background. Bleeding due to radiation proctocolitis is a frequent and severe complication of radiotherapy in cancers of the pelvis. Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment with Nd:YAG laser in this condition. Patients and Methods. A series of 9 patients with radiation-induced damage in the rectum and sigma were treated with endoscopic Nd: YAG laser until significant bleeding stopped and endoscopic features of proctocolitis improved. They received a median of 3 laser treatments (range 1–10] over a maximum time period of 11 months. Results. In 4 cases, bleeding ceased and, in 4, it was reduced to occasional spotting. In the remaining patient, laser therapy led to only a transient improvement, but did not modify the requirement of blood transfusion. In the 5 patients also suffering from urgency, incontinence and/or rectal mucoid discharge, the laser therapy course also relieved these symptoms. No significant treatment-related complications were observed. Conclusions. Endoscopic Nd::YAG laser is a useful and safe treatment for patients with bleeding due to radiation proctocolitis.
ISSN:1590-8658
1878-3562
DOI:10.1016/S1590-8658(01)80712-X