BACKGROUND/AIMS: There have been several reports of thermal injury induced by argon plasma coagulation (APC) in animal models, but no follow-up studies have revealed the actual thermal injury. METHODS: APC was performed on the stomachs of two living minipigs with and without prior submucosal injection of normal saline. The power and argon gas flow were set to 60 watts and 2 L/min, respectively, and pulse durations of 5, 10, and 20 seconds were used. One of the minipigs was killed immediately thereafter and the other was killed 1 week later. RESULTS: The minipig killed immediately showed only subtle differences between noninjected and injected injuries under all the conditions, and the usefulness of prior submucosal injection was not obvious. However, the minipig killed 1 week later had a deep ulcer extending to the deeper muscle layer at the noninjected site where APC had been applied for 20 seconds, whereas tissue injury of the injected site was limited to the submucosal layer. CONCLUSIONS: Unexpected tissue damage can occur even using a short-duration APC. Prior submucosal injection for APC might be a safer alternative technique, especially in a thinner and narrower gut wall.
Argon ; Argon Plasma Coagulation ; Models, Animal ; Muscles ; Stomach ; Swine, Miniature ; Ulcer

Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) score of 3 or 4.Patients and Methods: We reviewed the data of 287 patients with native papillae who underwent therapeutic ERCP for biliary disease at our hospital between October 2016 and October 2018. The patients were divided into two groups; those with an ECOG-PS score of 3 or 4 (group A; n=78) and those with an ECOG-PS score of 0–2 (group B; n=209).Results: The rate of technical success was not significantly different between the two groups (95% versus 89%, P=0.13). Although the occurrence rate of overall adverse events (10% versus 11%, P=0.95) was not significantly different between the groups, the occurrence rates of aspiration pneumonia (3.8% versus 0%, P=0.0044) and heart failure (2.6% versus 0%, P=0.020) were significantly higher in group A.Conclusion: The rates of technical success and overall adverse events did not significantly differ between patients with an ECOG-PS score of 3 or 4 and those with a score of 0–2; however, aspiration pneumonia and heart failure were more likely to occur among patients with an ECOG-PS score of 3 or 4.

Objectives: Rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) can result from bleeding into the rectus abdominis muscle or a direct muscular tear; nontraumatic spontaneous RSH is a rare condition. Here, we report a case of spontaneous RSH associated with warfarin administration for the treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Patient: An 87-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for 3 days. She was receiving warfarin for treating CTEPH. She had a bulging and hard lower abdomen with ecchymosis. Moreover, the bulging portion was highly tender, and a positive Carnett’s sign was also observed. She reported no history of abdominal trauma. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed right RSH.Results: She was diagnosed with spontaneous RSH and admitted to our hospital. Warfarin was antagonized with an intravenous injection of vitamin K; hemostatic agents were intravenously administered. Gradually, her abdominal pain improved. She was finally discharged 12 days after the admission. Abdominal CT scan performed 17 days after the discharge revealed a reduction in the size of RSH.Conclusion: Despite not having a history of trauma, it is necessary to consider the possibility of RSH for patients receiving warfarin and complaining of abdominal pain.