Temporary liver blood-outflow occlusion increases effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation: An experimental study on pigs

AimTo evaluate the feasibility of liver blood outflow (LBOF) occlusion and its impact on the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA).MethodsThe experiment was performed on 10 pigs. The animals were divided into groups A and B according to RFA protocol. In group A (n = 5) the RFA time was that taken to reach the target temperature of 105 °C, whereas group B (n = 5) had a constant RFA temperature of 105 °C and constant time of 8 min. The liver blood flow (LBF) was quantified using Doppler ultrasonography before LBOF occlusion and after that. RFA were performed using an expandable 3 cm RF needle. Two liver ablations created in different liver lobes were compared; the first ablation was created before balloon inflation and the second one was created under LBOF occlusion. The time required for RFA procedure, liver ablation volumes, shape and microscopic changes of the thermoablated zones were recorded.ResultsThe LBF dropped significantly in all liver vessels after balloon inflation. The volume of the ablated area was 8.2 ± 2.2 cm3 and increased significantly after LBOF occlusion to 17.4 ± 3.8 cm3 (p < 0.001), in group A. A significant enlargement of the ablated area with occluded LBF was registered in group B, it was 6.7 ± 2.8 cm3 versus 19.4 ± 1.8 cm3 respectively (p < 0.01).ConclusionsTemporary LBOF occlusion led to a significant reduction in liver blood flow, enlargement of the thermoablated area volume and homogeneity of the coagulated zones.