Postbiopsy Bleeding in a Porcine Model: Reduction with Radio-frequency Ablation—Preliminary Results

Abstract

Tract ablation with thermocouple-monitored RF energy decreased postprocedural hemorrhage after hepatic and renal biopsy.

A trucut biopsy needle for bipolar radiofrequency ablation of needle tract: a proof-of-concept experiment

“…Laeseke et al showed a decrease in blood loss due to RF coagulation of the puncture tract in an animal model by using a modified 17-G introducer needle [8]. However, the authors only performed punctures without taking biopsies using an open surgical approach.…”

Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatic Malignancies: Is Needle Tract Cauterization Necessary for Preventing Iatrogenic Bleeding?

“…Thus, cauterization of the needle tracts is considered to prevent intraperitoneal bleeding through the injured vessels. Laeseke et al [22] reported that biopsy sites after ablation had significantly less blood loss than did control biopsy sites using porcine liver or kidney. However, the volume of blood loss was very low, at less than 3 g, in the ablation group and control group from their data.…”

Laparoscopic liver resection using radio frequency ablation in a porcine model

“…Recently, internally cooled tip electrodes capable of distributing the heat deeper in the tissue result in larger ablated volumes, and thus RFA has broadened its applications. The treatment of hemobilia secondary to hepatocellular cancer [13], the reduction of postbiopsy bleeding with RFA in a porcine model [16], the control of bleeding during parenchymal dissection and hepatectomies [5,21,22], and the control of bleeding after renal [14], splenic [9], and liver trauma [8] are some examples of the hemostatic effect of RFA. Furthermore, our unpublished experience from open and laparoscopic surgery suggests that RFA energy is hardly efficient to seal major hepatic vessels (right or left portal vein or right or middle hepatic vein) and moreover may cause unwanted thrombosis and thermal injury to bile ducts or vessels that are to be preserved.…”