A new minimally invasive technique for treating radiation cystitis: the argon‐beam coagulator

• Published in: BJU international Vol. 98; no. 3; pp. 610 - 612
• Main Authors: WINES, MICHAEL P., LYNCH, WILLIAM D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2006; Blackwell
• Subjects: Argon; argon beam coagulator; Biological and medical sciences; Cystitis - etiology; Cystitis - surgery; Cystoscopes; Cystoscopy - methods; Equipment Design; Humans; Light Coagulation - instrumentation; Light Coagulation - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Prostatic Neoplasms - radiotherapy; radiation cystitis; Radiation Injuries - etiology; Radiation Injuries - surgery; Radiotherapy - adverse effects; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the urinary system; Treatment Outcome; Urinary system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Human; Coagulator; Nephrology; Urinary system disease; Electrosurgery; Urinary tract disease; Radiotherapy; Urology; Minimally invasive surgery; Treatment; Radiation injury; Complication; Bladder disease; Technique; radiation cystitis; Argon; argon beam coagulator; Cystitis
• ISSN: 1464-4096; 1464-410X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06293.x

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of the argon‐beam coagulator used endoscopically for treating radiation cystitis, as radiotherapy is commonly used for treating pelvic tumours of urological origin, but intractable bleeding related to radiation cystitis remains a serious complication and requires a difficult long‐term follow‐up, for which cystoscopic methods of management have traditionally had limited success. PATIENTS AND METHODS We assessed seven patients with radiation cystitis; they were treated with argon‐beam coagulation after a cystoscopic evaluation. RESULTS With a mean follow‐up of 15 months, one treatment was used in six patients, with a second treatment required in one. CONCLUSION The argon‐beam coagulator appears to be a safe, well tolerated and minimally invasive treatment in patients with radiation cystitis.