Argon Plasma Coagulation.

Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is an electrosurgical procedure in which electrical energy in the form of ionized argon gas is transferred to target tissue. The APC device uses non-contact thermal energy in the form of ionized gas or plasma for coagulation of the tissue. This technique was first used in open surgical and laparoscopic procedures nearly 2 decades ago. With the development of flexible probes and special electrical waveforms in 1990s, APC has been adopted for use in flexible endoscopy for the treatment of various gastrointestinal conditions. APC is an efficacious, safe, and easy-to-use method of hemostasis and devitalization of tissues. This chapter will discuss the indications and contraindications for APC, provide a detailed step-by-step description of the procedure, and an evidence-based review of the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]