ShotBlocker versus cryotherapy for reducing pain and anxiety associated with subcutaneous injection

Objective:To determine and compare the abilities of Shot Blocker and cryotherapy for reducing pain and anxiety associated with subcutaneous injections.Subcutaneous injection has been used excessively for continuous,low-dose administration of drugs.Considering that these drugs may require prolonged administration,new devices and methods of injection are needed to decrease pain and anxiety associated with repeated drug injections.Methods:A quasi-experimental study design on a purposive sample of 54 patients comprised of both sexes has been utilized.The subjects were divided into 2 equal groups(group 1,Shot Blocker;group 2,cryotherapy),and 3 tools were used,namely the sociodemographic and medical data sheet,Verbal Descriptor Scale for measuring pain,and Beck Anxiety Inventory.Results:A significant reduction in pain and anxiety mean scores was observed after using cryotherapy and Shot Blocker techniques during subcutaneous injection.In addition,the Shot Blocker group exhibited significantly lower pain and anxiety mean scores compared with the cryotherapy group.Conclusions:Our findings revealed that Shot Blocker and cryotherapy were effective non-pharmacological methods for reducing pain and anxiety levels associated with repeated subcutaneous injections.

Cryotherapy versus Hydrogen Peroxide in the Treatment of Seborrheic Keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis has a varying degree of pigmentation. In pigmented seborrheic keratosis, the proliferating keratinocytes trigger the activation of neighboring melanocytes by secreting melanocyte-stimulating cytokines. The etiology of seborrheic keratosis is not known. Epidermal growth factors or their receptors have been implicated in the development of seborrheic keratosis. Seborrheic keratoses can safely be left alone, but ugly or easily traumatized ones can be removed with cryotherapy, electrodesiccation, curettage, or shave excision. The present work aims to compare two modalities of treatment for seborrheic keratosis, namely cryotherapy and hydrogen peroxide (30%). Methods: 30 patients with seborrheic keratosis were included in this study. They were divided into two groups, each with 15 patients. The treatment modalities that have been used include cryotherapy and hydrogen peroxide in three different concentrations (30%, 35%, and 40%). Result: The cryotherapy group consisted of 15 patients, 7 males and 8 females. Their ages ranged from 38 to 80 years, with a mean of 56.1 ± 11.4. Clinical and photographic assessments showed complete removal in all 15 patients in this group (100%). As regards the hydrogen peroxide group, this group included 15 patients, distributed among 7 males and 8 females. Their ages ranged from 39 to 90 years, with a mean of 53.9 ± 14.4. Clinical and photographic assessments showed response in only one small superficial lesion in one patient (6.7%) and no response in 14 patients (93.3%). Conclusion: Cryotherapy is an effective, easy, and relatively cheap method for treating seborrheic keratosis.

Cryotherapy in the management of premalignant and malignant conditions of the esophagus

Endoscopic cryotherapy is a relatively new thermal ablative modality used for the treatment of neoplastic lesions of the esophagus. It relies on cycles of rapid cooling and thawing to induce tissue destruction with a cryogen(liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide) leading to intra and extra-cellular damage. Surgical treatment was once considered the standard therapeutic intervention for neoplastic diseases of the esophagus and is associated with considerable rates of morbidity and mortality. Several trials that evaluated cryotherapy in Barrett's esophagus(BE) associated neoplasia showed reasonable efficacy rates and safety profile. Cryotherapy has also found applications in the treatment of esophageal cancer, both for curative and palliative intent. Cryotherapy has also shown promising results as salvage therapy in cases refractory to radiofrequency ablation treatment. Cryoballoon focal ablation using liquid nitrogen is a novel mode of cryogen delivery which has been used for the treatment of BE with dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma. Most common side effects of cryotherapy reported in the literature include mild chest discomfort, esophageal strictures and bleeding. In conclusion, cryotherapy is an effective and safe method for the treatment of esophageal neoplastic processes, ranging from early stages of low grade dysplasia to esophageal cancer.

The effect of cryotherapy application before versus after subcutaneous anticoagulant injection on pain intensity and hematoma formation: A quasi-experimental design

Objective:To investigate the effect of cryotherapy application before versus after subcutaneous anticoagulant injection(SCAI)on pain intensity and hematoma formation.Methods:A quasi-experimental design was utilized.A convenient sample of 105 adult patients,who were admitted to one of the biggest teaching hospitals in Cairo and receiving SCAI,were recruited over a period of six months.Patients were randomly allocated into three groups:A Control group who received the routine hospital care(G1,n=35)and two intervention group who received cryotherapy for 5-min(G2:cryotherapy applied before SCAI,n=35;G3:cryotherapy applied after SCAI,n=35).Demographic and medical history data sheet,Pain Numeric Rating Scale and Hematoma Formation and Size Assessment Scale were used to collect the data.Results:The pain intensity among the patients in the two intervention groups(G2:Median=1.0;G3:Median=0)was significantly lower than in the control group(G1,Median=3.0).No significant difference was found between G2 and G3(P=0.728).Applying cryotherapy after SCAI(G3)decreased the frequency of hematoma formation(48hrs=31.4%&72hrs=28.5%)compared to applying it before injection(G2,100%)or not applying it(G1,100%).The size of hematoma in G3 was smaller than that in G2(P<0.01).Conclusion:Applying cryotherapy significantly decreased pain intensity and hematoma occurrence/size.Applying cryotherapy after injection was more effective in preventing hematoma formation and decreasing its size than applying it before injection.

Efficacy and safety of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy for treatment of Barrett's esophagus

AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy as a primary or rescue treatment for BE,with and without dysplasia,or intramucosal adenocarcinoma (IMC).METHODS This was a retrospective,single-center study carried out in a tertiary care center including 45 patients with BE who was treatment-na?ve or who had persistent intestinal metaplasia(IM),dysplasia,or IMC despite prior therapy.Barrett's mucosa was resected via EMR when clinically appropriate,then patients underwent cryotherapy until eradication or until deemed to have failed treatment.Surveillance biopsies were taken at standard intervals.RESULTS From 2010 through 2014,33 patients were studied regarding the efficacy of cryotherapy.Overall,29 patients (88%) responded to cryotherapy,with 84% having complete regression of all dysplasia and cancer.Complete eradication of cancer and dysplasia was seen in 75% of subjects with IMC; the remaining two subjects did not respond to cryotherapy.Following cryotherapy,15 patients with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) had 30% complete regression,50% IM,and 7% low-grade dysplasia (LGD); one subject had persistent HGD.Complete eradication of dysplasia occurred in all 5 patients with LGD.In 5 patients with IM,complete regression occurred in 4,and IM persisted in one.In 136 cryotherapy sessions amongst 45 patients,adverse events included chest pain (1%),stricture (4%),and one gastrointestinal bleed in a patient on dual antiplatelet therapy who had previously undergone EMR.CONCLUSION Cryotherapy is an efficacious and safe treatment modality for Barrett's esophagus with and without dysplasia or intramucosal adenocarcinoma.

Effect of cryotherapy on pain management at the puncture site of arteriovenous fistula among children undergoing hemodialysis

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of cryotherapy in managing the pain at the puncture site of Arterio-Venous Fistula (AVF) among children undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD).Methods: A one-group pre-post quasi-experiment was performed in two HD centers affiliated with Cairo University.The experiment involved 40 children with AVF undergoing HD.Before puncturing,cryotherapy was applied using 2 cm-3 cm pieces of frozen distilled water in a plastic bag.Pain was assessed subjectively and objectively in two dialysis sessions before and after cryotherapy.A part from a physiological assessment of vital signs,pain was assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain and the Observed Pain Behavior rating scales.All research ethics were applied.Results: HD had a median duration of four years,while cryotherapy had a median application time of 8.8 min.The Wong-Baker Faces Pain score and almost all observed pain behaviors significantly decreased after cryotherapy.Significant improvements were observed in respiratory rate before and after needle puncture and in oxygen saturation after needle puncture.A lower skin dryness was observed after cryotherapy (12.5%) than before cryotherapy (52.5%;p < 0.001).Conclusions: Cryotherapy can effectively reduce the venipuncture pain among children with AVF undergoing maintenance HD.However,the confounding effects of distraction and the non-randomized design used must be both considered when interpreting the findings.This study recommends the use of cryotherapy in managing needle puncture pain.Further research must adopt a randomized trial design with a placebo to support further the benefits of this procedure.

Comparison of encirclage and cryotherapy with argon laser in the management of traumatic cyclodialysis cleft

The study compared anatomical and functional outcome of a novel technique of encirclage and cryotherapy with the conventional argon laser in the management of traumatic cyclodialysis cleft in 19 patients(10: encirclage and 9: argon laser). The postoperative anatomical success was taken as rise in intraocular pressure(IOP) more than 6 mm Hg or the closure of cleft on gonioscopy or ultrasound biomicroscopy(UBM). Visual outcome was measured as change in logMAR visual acuity. Traumatic cataract and hypotony were present in majority. IOP>6 mm Hg was noted in 90% of encirclage group and in 77.70% of argon laser group. Two cases had non-closure of cleft. Encirclage is comparable to argon laser in terms of anatomical and functional success with possible advantage of single procedure and use in cases with failed laser.

Cryotherapy in Ophthalmology

Cryogens have been used to freeze living tissue for the purpose of treating benign and malignant lesions. Within the last century, ophthalmologists have found cryotherapy to be useful in treating a variety of ocular pathologies. Here, we review the history of cryotherapy, its introduction to the field of ophthalmology, its proposed mechanism of action, and its current applications in treating surface and intraocular eye disease.

Late clinical characteristics of infants with retinopathy of prematurity and treated with cryotherapy

AIM： To describe the clinical characteristics and late results of patients with retinopathy of prematurity（ROP）treated with ＂6h cryotherapy＂.·METHODS： Out of 1252 infants screened for ROP, 52 patients were treated with temporal 6h cryotherapy from1997 to 2005 were recalled to our clinic. Among these 23 patients were available and 46 eyes of 23 infants were included to evaluate for visual acuity, refractive error,ocular alignment, nystagmus, retinal examination（abnormal branching of retinal vessels, retinal thinning,latis degenerations, tortuosity of vessels, straightening of temporal vessels, narrowing of the angle of vessel in the juxtapapillary entrance, pigment changes, macular heterotopia）, optic atrophy and optic disc cupping, axial length at birth and axial length at 1y.·RESULTS： The median age at examination was 7（5-18）y.In 32.6% of patients, the visual acuity was ≤20/200 and the mean best corrected visual acuity was 20/35 as measured with a Snellen chart. Mean spherical refractive error was-1.76±2.69 D. The degree of myopia at the last examination was found to be correlated with the elongation of the eye in the first year of life. Exotropia was present in 17.4%（n =8） of infants and esotropia in13%（n =6）. The most common retinal abnormality was abnormal branching of retinal vessels（82.6%） followed by retinal thinning（52.2%）.·CONCLUSION： The late clinical outcomes of infants with ROP treated in our clinic with cryotherapy seems to comparable with results of laser treatment.

Simultaneous pars plana vitrectomy,panretinal photocoagulation,cryotherapy,and Ahmed valve implantation for neovascular glaucoma

AIM:To describe and evaluate the efficacy of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation(AGV)combined with pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)in a single surgical act for the treatment of advanced neovascular glaucoma(NVG).METHODS:Retrospective observational case series included 51 eyes from 50 patients with severe NVG treated with PPV,AGV,and panretinal photocoagulation and/or cryotherapy in a single surgical act during a 13-year period(2005-2018).Preoperative,intraoperative and postoperative data at day 1 and months 1,3,6,21,and 24 were systematically collected.Definition of surgical success was stablished at IOP between 6 and 21 mm Hg with or without topical treatment.RESULTS:Main indications for surgery were NVG secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy(39.2%)and central retinal vein occlusion(37.3%).Mean(±SD)preoperative IOP was 42.0±11.2 mm Hg decreasing to 15.5±7.1 mm Hg at 12 mo and 15.8±9.1 mm Hg at 24 mo of follow up.Cumulative incidence of success of IOP control was 76.0%at first postoperative month,reaching 88.3%at 6 mo.Prevalence of successful IOP control at long term was 74.4%at 12 mo and 71.4%at 24 mo.Eye evisceration for unsuccessful NVG management was required in 1 case(2.0%).CONCLUSION:Combination of AGV implantation and PPV in a single act may be a suitable option for severe forms of NVG in a case-by-case basis for effective IOP control and a complete panretinal photocoagulation.

Histological analysis and clinical observation of phrenic nerve cryotherapy following pulmonary resection

BACKGROUND： Residual postoperative pleural spaces （RPPS） are often encountered during pulmonary resection; this could adversely affect the outcome and prolong recovery. Nerve cryotherapy reduces postoperative complications and does not affect neural regeneration. However, it remains unclear whether nerve cryotherapy reduces RPPS occurrence following pulmonary resection.OBJECTIVE： To explore pathological changes in the phrenic nerve following exposure to -50℃ for various freezing times, and to explore the feasibility and efficacy of phrenic nerve cryotherapy following pulmonary resection based on animal experiment results.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A comparative animal study was conducted at the Animal Experimental Center of General Hospital of Chinese PLA from January to June 2008. Based on results from the animal study, a randomized, controlled, clinical study was initiated at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of General Hospital of Chinese PLA between July 2008 and July 2009.PARTICIPANTS： A total of 160 patients undergoing lobectomy were selected at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of General Hospital of Chinese PLA from July 2008 to July 2009.METHODS： Animal experiment： 27 adult goats were randomly assigned to three groups （n = 9）.The phrenic nerves were frozen at -50 ℃ for 30, 60, and 90 seconds, respectively. Clinical study： 160 patients undergoing lobectomy were randomly assigned to two groups （n = 80）. In the cryoanalgesia group, patients received phrenic nerve cryotherapy; phrenic nerves were frozen above the capsula cordis for 60 seconds at -50 ℃ prior to chest closure. Patients in the control group did not receive cryotherapy.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Pathological changes were observed at days 1, 30, and 60 following phrenic nerve cryotherapy. In the clinical study, RPPS incidence rate was regularly recorded. Respiratory function tests, including measured forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second, were regularly conducted post-surgically. The incidence of post-surgical infection complications and the average days of chest drainage and hospital stay were observed and recorded.RESULTS： Animal study： nerve damage progressively increased with prolonged freezing time at -50 ℃, and recovery time from damage gradually increased. Nerves, which were frozen for 30 and 60 seconds, recovered by 30 days, and all nerves completely recovered by 60 days. Clinical study： the RPPS incidence rate was significantly less in the cryoanalgesia group compared with the control group at 1, 5, 10, and 30 days following surgery （P〈0.05）. Simultaneously, phrenic nerve cryotherapy decreased the incidence rate of RPPS and shortened the average days of chest drainage and hospital stay in patients undergoing lobectomy （P〈0.05）. However, phrenic nerve cryotherapy did not affect forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and the incidence rate of post-surgical infection complications （P〉0.05）.CONCLUSION： Following phrenic nerve cryotherapy in the goat at -50℃, the phrenic nerve recovered to normal by 60 days. In the clinical study, phrenic nerve cryotherapy reduced the RPPS incidence rate, had no effect on pulmonary function, shortened hospital stay in patients undergoing lobectomy, and proved to be a safe, effective method.

Endoscopic cryotherapy:Indications,techniques,and outcomes involving the gastrointestinal tract

Endoscopic cryotherapy is a technique utilized for the ablation of target tissue within the gastrointestinal tract.A cryotherapy system utilizes the endoscopic application of cryogen such as liquid nitrogen,carbon dioxide or liquid nitrous oxide.This leads to disruption of cell membranes,apoptosis,and thrombosis of local blood vessels within the target tissue.Several trials utilizing cryotherapy for Barrett’s esophagus(BE)with variable dysplasia,gastric antral vascular ectasia(GAVE),esophageal carcinoma,radiation proctitis,and metastatic esophageal carcinomas have shown safety and efficacy.More recently,liquid nitrogen cryotherapy(cryodilation)was shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of a benign esophageal stricture which was refractory to dilations,steroid injections,and stenting.Moreover,liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is associated with less post procedure pain as compared to radiofrequency ablation in BE with comparable ablation rates.In patients with GAVE,cryotherapy was found to be less tedious as compared to argon plasma coagulation.Adverse events from cryotherapy most commonly include chest pain,esophageal strictures,and bleeding.Gastric perforations did occur as well,but less often.In summary,endoscopic cryotherapy is a promising and growing field,which was first demonstrated in BE,but the use now spans for several other disease processes.Larger randomized controlled trials are needed before its role can be established for these different diseases.

Cryotherapy and ankle motion in chronic venous disorders

This study compared ankle range of motion (AROM) including dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, inversion and eversion, and venous refill time (VRT) in leg skin inflamed by venous disorders, before and after a new cryotherapy ulcer prevention treatment. Fifty-seven individuals participated in the randomized clinical trial;28 in the experimental group and 29 received usual care only. Results revealed no statistically significant differences between the experimental and usual care groups although AROM measures in the experimental group showed a consistent, non-clinically relevant decrease compared to the usual care group except for dorsiflexion. Within treatment group comparisons of VRT results showed a statistically significant increase in both dorsiflexion and plantar flexion for patients with severe VRT in the experimental group (6.9 ± 6.8;p = 0.002 and 5.8 ± 12.6;p = 0.02, respectively). Cryotherapy did not further restrict already compromised AROM, and in some cases, there were minor improvements.

Combined cryotherapy and external beam radiation therapy for the treatment of intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer: A case series

Introduction: Routine PSA screening for prostate cancer (PCa) has increased the detection of intermediate-risk, localized disease. Conventional treatments for localized PCa include surgery, brachytherapy, cryotherapy or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). However, for intermediate risk patients, rates of recurrence are moderately high and a multi-modal treatment approach for these patients may be necessary. We treated patients with a combination of cryotherapy and low dose EBRT to assess the safety and feasibility of this combinatory approach as well as to evaluate early oncological outcomes. Case Presentation: Men with intermediate risk (PSA = 10-20 ng/ml and/or Gleason = 7 and/or clinical T2b) localized PCa were prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients underwent cryotherapy and then 39 Gy EBRT 4-6 weeks after surgery. After completing EBRT, the men were followed every 3 months for 2 years. Adverse events, PSA, urinary and erectile function were assessed during each follow-up. Three patients completed the study. Preoperative PSA ranged from 3.5 to 7.9 ng/ml. There were no intraoperative complications and the treatment was well tolerated. Following cryotherapy and EBRT, all patients were pad-free within 6 months and remained continent for the duration of the study. Bother index remained stable throughout the study for all patients. No urethral strictures or rectal toxicities were observed. PSA remained undetectable for all patients. Conclusions: In this prospective study, cryotherapy combined with low dose EBRT was a safe approach for the treatment of intermediate-risk, localized PCa. Early oncological outcomes appeared to be favorable with all patients having undetectable PSA during the 2-year follow-up period. Further studies are warranted to confirm these preliminary results.

effective treatment of post-intubation subglottic stenosis in children with holmium laser therapy and cryotherapy via flexible bronchoscopy

Importance:Post-intubation subglottic stenosis(SGS)in children can be life threatening.Definitive treatment varies and lacks a universally accepted approach.Objective:We performed a prospective study to assess the safety and feasibility of holmium laser combined with cryotherapy delivered via flexible bronchoscopy for the treatment of post-intubation SGS in children.Methods:This study involved all patients with post-intubation SGS seen at the Interventional Pulmonology Department of Beijing Children's Hospital between July 2014 and December 2016.Holmium laser treatment and cryotherapy was then performed under flexible bronchoscopy,whose parents refused to accept the alternative standard treatment of tracheotomy and balloon dilation under direct laryngoscopy.results:Sixteen patients with post-intubation SGS were included in this study.Ages ranged from 2 months to 12.25 years old.According to the Cotton-Myer grading system,three cases were Grade II,12 cases were Grade III,and one case was Grade IV.According to the McCaffrey system,eight cases were Stage 1,two cases were Stage 2,and six cases were Stage 3.The average number of procedures was 4.88.Fifteen of the 16 patients achieved clinical cure.One patient achieved clinical improvement.The average treatment course duration was 55.31 days.No severe complications were seen.Post-treatment clinical symptoms,endoscopic findings and quality of life showed marked improvement.Interpretation:Our study supports the conclusion that holmium laser treatment combined with cryotherapy via flexible bronchoscopy appears to be a safe and feasible treatment for post-intubation SGS in children.

Use of a computerized cryotherapy device following total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The benefits of cryotherapy after orthopedic surgeries such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA)are well-documented,and include reduced surgically-induced intra-articular inflammation,lower post-operative analgesia requirements and shortened post-operative lengths of stay.

Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?

Cold therapy has been used regularly as an immediate treatment to induce analgesia following acute soft-tissue injuries,however,a prolonged ice application has proved to delay the start of the healing and lengthen the recovery process.Hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy,also known as neurocryostimulation,has shown the ability to overcome most of the limitations of traditional cold therapy,and meanwhile promotes the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects well,but the current existing studies have shown conflicting results on its effects.Traditional cold therapy still has beneficial effect especially when injuries are severe and swelling is the limiting factor for recovery after soft-tissue injuries,and therefore no need to be entirely put out to pasture in the rehabilitation practice.Strong randomized controlled trials with good methodological quality are still needed in the future to evaluate the effects of different cryotherapy modalities.

Cryoablation of malignant liver tumors: results of a single center study

BACKGROUND: Local ablative procedures such as cryo-surgery and thermo-ablation are increasingly employed as a supplement to liver resection for the therapy of primary and secondary liver tumors. It is still unclear if the survival time can be extended through local ablative procedures. This prospective study shows operative actions, complications and long-term follow-up of 19 patients undergoing cryotherapy. METHODS: Between 1997 and 1998, 19 patients underwent cryotherapy due to a non-resectable malignant liver tumor (17 patients with metastases of a colon carcinoma, 2 patients with a hepatocellular carcinoma). Twelve patients (63.2%) received cryotherapy only and seven patients (36.8%) received a combination of resection and cryotherapy. The median follow-up period was 23 months. RESULTS: In a total of 59 liver tumors (18 were resected and 41 received cryotherapy), 12 had cryotherapy only, and 7 had a combination of cryotherapy and resection. The 30-day lethality was 0%, and the rate of major complications was 21%. After one year, 27.3% of the patients were still recurrence- free. The recurrence rate for all tumors treated was 58.8%. The median survival time for all patients was 21 months. The one- and three-year survival rates were 62. 5% and 15.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality for cryotherapy is low, but there is a high rate of complications and long-term tumor control is not sufficient. If local ablative procedures of hepatic lesions are to be performed, not laparotomy but percutaneous, percutaneous thermoablation should be discussed as an alternative therapeutic measure.

Role of endoscopic therapy in early esophageal cancer

Esophageal carcinoma is a highly lethal cancer associated with high morbidity and mortality. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma are the two distinct histological types. There has been significant progress in endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of early stages of cancer using resection and ablation techniques, as shown in several trials in the recent past. Earlier detection of esophageal cancer and advances in treatment modalities have lead to improvement in the 5-year survival from 5% to about 20% in the past decade. Endoscopic eradication therapy is the preferred modality of treatment in cancer limited to mucosal layer of the esophagus as there is very low risk of lymph node metastasis, leading to high cure rates, low risk of recurrence and with few adverse effects. The most common adverse events seen are strictures, bleeding and rarely perforation which can be endoscopically managed. In patients with recurrent advanced disease or invasive tumor, esophagectomy with lymph node dissection remains the mainstay of treatment. There is debate on post-endoscopic surveillance with some studies suggesting closer follow up with upper endoscopy every 6 mo for the first 1-2 years and then annually for the 3 years while others recommending the appropriate action only if symptoms or other abnormalities develop. Overall, the field of endoscopic therapy is still evolving and focus should be placed on careful patient selection using a multidisciplinary approach.

Chronic radiation proctopathy: A practical review of endoscopic treatment

Chronic radiation proctopathy(CRP) is a troublesome complication of pelvic radiotherapy. The most common presentation is rectal bleeding. CRP symptoms interfere with daily activities and decrease quality of life. Rectal bleeding management in patients with CRP represents a conundrum for practitioners. Medical therapy is ineffective in general and surgical approach has a high morbidmortality. Endoscopy has a role in the diagnosis,staging and treatment of this disease. Currently available endoscopic modalities are formalin,potassium titanyl phosphate laser,neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser,argon laser,bipolar electrocoagulation(BiCAP),heater probe,band ligation,cryotherapy,radiofrequency ablation and argon plasma coagulation(APC). Among these options,APC is the most promising.