Complications of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation of liver metastases

Specific complications related to IRFA are rare, especially for lesions of <35 mm in size located far from a main biliary duct, when additional septic procedures are not used. A lesion-by-lesion approach based on the benefit : risk ratio should therefore be used in the process of making surgical decisions. Combining resection with IRFA leads to higher morbidity, especially in difficult patients with numerous bilateral lesions, but may be necessary to achieve R0 (microscopically negative margins) outcomes.