Table 2.
Univariate analysis of factors associated with argon plasma coagulation treatment complications for hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis
| Variable | No. of complication/total patients | P-value |
| Distribution of telangiectasias | ||
| Distal rectum (within 10 cm from anal verge) | 4/31 | 1.0002 |
| Entire rectum +/− sigmoid (more than 10 cm from anal verge) | 2/14 | |
| Surface area covered by telangiectasias | ||
| Less than 50% | 2/19 | 1.0002 |
| More than 50% | 4/26 | |
| Presence of fresh blood | ||
| No | 1/16 | 0.3992 |
| Yes | 5/29 | |
| Ulceration | ||
| < 1 cm2 | 2/33 | 0.0352 |
| > 1 cm2 | 4/12 | |
| Gender | ||
| Female | 5/40 | 0.5292 |
| Male | 1/5 | |
| Hypertensive | ||
| No | 4/39 | 0.3671 |
| Yes | 2/6 | |
| Diabetic | ||
| No | 4/40 | 0.1252 |
| Yes | 2/5 | |
| Abdominal surgery | ||
| No | 6/33 | 0.1712 |
| Yes | 0/12 | |
| Acute radiation injury | ||
| No | 6/39 | 0.6991 |
| Yes | 0/6 | |
| Requiring blood transfusions | ||
| No | 3/30 | 0.3842 |
| Yes | 3/15 | |
| Number of APC | ||
| 1 | 5/33 | 1.0002 |
| ≥ 2 | 1/12 | |
| Age, yr | ||
| < 60 | 1/22 | 0.1872 |
| ≥ 60 | 5/23 | |
| BMI at the first treatment of APC, kg/m2 | ||
| < 21 | 3/21 | 1.0002 |
| ≥ 21 | 3/24 | |
| Time from the end of radiotherapy to bleeding, mo | ||
| < 8 | 2/17 | 1.0002 |
| ≥ 8 | 4/28 | |
| Time from the end of radiotherapy to the first time of APC, mo | ||
| < 14 | 4/23 | 0.6652 |
| ≥ 14 | 2/22 |
1
Data were calculated using continuity correction;
2
Data were calculated using the Fisher exact test.
APC: Argon plasma coagulation; CRP: Chronic radiation proctitis; BMI: Body mass index.