Clinical Study

Comparison of Hemostatic Efficacy of Argon Plasma Coagulation with and without Distilled Water Injection in Treating High-Risk Bleeding Ulcers

Table 1

Baseline characteristics of the study group.

Combined group
( = 60)
APC group
( = 60)
value

Age, year (SD)65.7 ± 17.268.0 ± 14.70.433
 Age ≥ 60 yrs40 (66.7%)43 (71.7%)0.553
Male gender48 (80.0%)47 (48.3%)0.822
Cigarette consumption13 (21.7%)13 (21.7%)1.000
Alcohol consumption11 (18.3%)7 (11.7%)0.306
Aspirin use3 (5.0%)4 (6.7%)1.000
NSAID use27 (45.0%)19 (31.7%)0.113
Steroid use1 (1.7%)4 (6.7%)0.364
Previous ulcer bleeding19 (31.7%)16 (26.7)0.547
Hypovolemic shock11 (18.3%)14 (23.3%)0.500
Hemoglobin, g/dL (SD)10 (16.7%)12 (20.0%)0.637
Platelet count, k/cumm (SD)200.5 ± 87.6194.0 ± 63.80.644
 Thrombocytopenia*16 (26.7%)17 (28.3%)0.838
PT/APTT prolongation9 (15.0%)6 (10.0%)0.408
Comorbid disease**17 (28.3%)18 (30.0%)0.841
Ulcer size, mm (SD)15.0 ± 7.116.0 ± 8.70.514
 Ulcer ≥ 20 mm18 (30.0%)21 (35.0%)0.559
Ulcer location
 Gastric ulcer23 (38.3%)18 (30.0%)0.336
 Duodenal ulcer34 (56.7%)36 (60.0%)0.711
 Stump ulcer3 (5.0%)6 (10.0%)0.491
Bleeding type
 Spurting3 (5.0%)5 (8.3%)0.717
 Oozing19 (31.7%)26 (43.3%)0.187
 NBVV 25 (41.7%)23 (38.3%)0.709
 Adherent clot13 (21.7%)6 (10.0%)0.080
Injection volume, mL (SD)8.4 ± 4.4

APTT: activated partial thromboplastin time; NBVV: nonbleeding visible vessel; PT: prothrombin time; and SD: standard deviation.
*Thrombocytopenia is defined as platelet count <150000/mm3.
**Comorbid disease included old stroke, diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis, uremia, congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, and poststatus chemotherapy [1521].