Curative effect of radiofrequency ablation for firearm injury in livers combined with seawater immersion

Abstract

Objective To observe the curative effect of radiofrequency ablation for fireman injury in livers combined with seawater immersion. Methods Ten adult male beagles were selected as the research objects. The method of surgical operation exposure combined with shooting by QSZ-92 training pistol was used to cause fireman injury in the left lobe of liver, and then animals were soaked in the seawater for 5 min. Radiofrequency ablation was applied to control hemorrhage of injured liver following animal was salvaged from seawater. The survival time of animals was recorded and the survival rate was statistically analyzed; the rectal temperature was monitored and compared before and after the seawater immersion. Measurements of complete blood count and blood chemistries were performed at baseline, 3rd, 7th and 14th postoperative day. Results All animals survived to 14th postoperative day, with a survival rate of 100%. The rectal temperature decreased significantly after seawater immersion (P=0.000). There was no significant difference in erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration and platelet count at baseline, 3rd, 7th and 14th postoperative day (P=0.081, 0.264, 0.070). The level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at 3rd postoperative day was significantly higher than baseline (P=0.000); the level of ALT at 7th postoperative day was significantly lower than that at 3rd postoperative day (P=0.000), but still higher than baseline (P=0.000); the level of ALT restored to normal till 14th postoperative day (P=0.218). The level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) at 3rd postoperative day was significantly higher than baseline (P=0.002), and the level of AST restored to normal at 7th postoperative day (P=0.290). The concentration of serum albumin at 3rd postoperative day was significantly lower than baseline (P=0.005), and didn’t restore to normal at 14th postoperative day (P=0.010). Conclusion In this study, a large-scale animal model of firearm injury in liver combined with seawater immersion was successfully established, and the hemostasis efficacy of radiofrequency ablation on such trauma was confirmed. Key words: Liver; Naval warfare injury; Radiofrequency ablation; Curative effect