Nitrous oxide cryotherapy ablation for refractory gastric antral vascular ectasia

BackgroundArgon plasma coagulation (APC) is typically the first-line therapy for gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE). However, many patients are refractory to APC ablation.ObjectiveWe examined the safety and efficacy of nitrous oxide CryoBalloon cryotherapy ablation for GAVE refractory to APC.MethodsThis is a retrospective review of patients with refractory GAVE treated with the CryoBalloon system. Technical success was defined as successful ablation of the visualized GAVE. Clinical success was defined by transfusion independence and percentage of GAVE that was eradicated.ResultsTwenty-three patients with GAVE were included, of whom 16 patients (70%) had two treatments with the CryoBalloon and seven patients (30%) had one treatment. Technical success was achieved in all patients. At six months, 19/23 (83%) were transfusion independent, while 20/23 (87%) had more than 75% of the GAVE eradicated. Patients were transfused an average of 1.8 units/month one year prior to cryotherapy and an average of 0.3 un...