Pneumoperitoneum after argon plasma coagulation treatment: perforation or accumulation of air in the cavity?

Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a safe method of electrocoagulation [1, 2]. How− ever, perforation can occasionally occur after the development of submucosal em− physema: contact of the probe with the mucosa, thermal injury, and high argon flow can all lead to an escape of gas through the gastrointestinal tract wall. Pneumoperitoneum developing after APC can be asymptomatic and heal spon− taneously, and the perforation site might not be found at laparotomy [2 ±5]. We have encountered two patients with sub− mucosal emphysema and pneumoperito− neum which developed after APC.