Open AccessUnintended Thermal Injuries from Radiofrequency Ablation: Organ Protection with an Angioplasty Balloon Catheter in an Animal Model
Author(s) -
Martha-Grace Knuttinen,
Thuong G. Van Ha,
Christopher Reilly,
Anthony Montag,
Christopher M. Straus
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of clinical imaging science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.279
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 2156-7514
pISSN - 2156-5597
DOI - 10.4103/2156-7514.126018
Subject(s) - medicine , balloon , ablation , diaphragm (acoustics) , percutaneous , balloon catheter , diaphragmatic breathing , catheter , ablation zone , radiology , radiofrequency ablation , surgery , catheter ablation , pathology , physics , alternative medicine , acoustics , loudspeaker
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate a novel approach of using a balloon catheter as a protective device to separate liver from the diaphragm or nearby bowel during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatic dome tumors in an animal model. Materials and Methods: All experimental procedures were approved by animal Institutional Review Board. Using a 3 cm RF needle electrode, 70 hepatic ablation zones were created using ultrasound in 7 pigs. 50 lesions were created using balloon interposition between liver and diaphragm; 20 lesions were created using the balloon device interposed posteriorly between liver and bowel. Additional 21 control lesions were performed. Animals were sacrificed immediately; diaphragm and bowel were then visually inspected and sectioned. Diaphragmatic and bowel injury was then classified according to the depth of thickness. Results: Control lesions caused full thickness injury, either to diaphragm or bowel. During ablation of lesions with balloon interposition, there was significantly less diaphragmatic injury, P < 0.001 and less bowel injury, P < 0.01. Conclusion: Using balloon interposition as a protective device has advantages over previous saline infusion or CO 2 insufflation, providing a safe way to expand percutaneous RFA of liver tumors located on the undersurface of the diaphragm. In addition, this method may be used in protection of other organs adjacent to areas being ablated