الفهرس 
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Abstract
Haemoptysis can be a life-threatening condition and its management
has changed in the recent years due to technological advances. Bronchial
artery embolization and improvements in CT are important landmarks.
Bronchoscopy remains one of the main procedures in cases of haemoptysis.
Beyond the diagnostic value, therapeutic techniques of interventional
pulmonology can be useful in the bleeding management.
Argon Plasma Coagulation is a type of electrosurgery, used to induce
mostly superficial thermal effects on tissue in a non-contact manner.
Electrosurgery is the application of an alternating current (AC) to a
biological tissue in order to induce a thermal effect through heating to
selectively destroy the tissue. Heating of a biological tissue can induce
different effects which depend not only on the reached temperature, but also
on the rate and duration of heating. For human tissue at temperatures below
40°C, no irreversible cellular damage occurs. Argon plasma
coagulation (APC) is a thermal coagulation technique that uses
ionized argon to transmit high-frequency electrical current.
Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC) was first introduced in open surgery
in the late 1970s and was adapted for use in endoscopy in 1991 then has become the most commonly used endoscopic coagulation technique
especially for haemostasis of superficial bleeding.
Argon-plasma coagulation is an electrosurgical noncontact thermal
ablation technique based on transmission of a high-frequency voltage
current through argon gas to result in thermal damage. It has been safely and
efficaciously used in multiple settings
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Argon
Plasma Coagulation in the treatment of patients with haemoptysis in a
purpose of using it at as an adjuvant tool that alleviates this risky
presentation.
This study was carried out on twenty patients referred to the Chest
Department, Menoufia University hospital; the included patients were
subjected to:
1. History taking.
2. Clinical evaluation.
3. Rotine laboratory investigations.
4. Radiological investigations.
5. Chest X-ray posterior-anterior views.
6. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest.
7. APC via fiberoptic bronchoscopy.
In the study the mean age of the studied patients was (48±12) years.
Sixty five percent of our patients were smokers, about 80% of patients were
males.
There were 3 patients without comorbidities (15%), thirteen patients
with COPD (65%), one patient with HTN (5%), one patient with DM (5%)
and two patients with HCV.
Mild hemoptysis was present in 70% of patients while moderate
hemoptysis was present in 30% of patients, no patient had severe
hemoptysis. Also, dyspnea and cough were present in 85% of patients. After
APC 45% of patients had no changes on C-T while 55% of patients had
reduced size of the lesion after APC due to good haemostasis.
All patients had haemoptysis they were managed by APC for
haemostasis. Biopsies were taken from 18 patients (90%), debulking was
done in 17 patients (85%).
One patient (5%) was complicated by increased haemoptysis (just
increased frequency) and two patients by increased dyspnoea. Three patients
had mild sinus tachycardia (15%) and one patient had bronchospasm
(relieved by bronchodilators and nebulizer).