Laparoscopic hepatectomy assisted by a flexible 915 MHz microwave antenna: A safe and innovative device for hepatectomy

Abstract

BackgroundThe objective of the present study was to elaborate a flexible 915 MHz microwave antenna (F915 MMA) and to evaluate the safety and feasibility in laparoscopic hepatecyomy (LH). MethodsThe F915 MMA was redesigned based on the experiences in clinical practice. Ten porcine LHs were divided into a ‘flexible’ group and a control group, with 5 porcine LHs in each group. The F915 MMA was used in the flexible group. The data for 48 patients who underwent LH were analyzed; 12 patients underwent F915 MMA-assisted LH and were regarded as the flexible group, and the others were considered as controls. ResultsThe F915 MMA bends freely and rotates flexibly. In the porcine LH in vivo, the flexible group had less intraoperative blood loss (54.00 ± 27.02 ml vs 230.00 ± 83.67 ml, P = 0.002), and the mean duration of hepatic parenchyma transection in the flexible group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (17.3 ± 7.8min vs 37.9 ± 6.4min). Among th patients, compared to the control group, the flexible group had less intraoperative blood loss (154.17 ± 68.95 ml vs 284.86 ± 294.68 ml, P = 0.018), less frequency and duration of the first porta hepatic occlusion (1.50 ± 0.52times vs 2.35 ± 1.14times, P = 0.021 and 22.50 ± 7.83min vs 35.95 ± 17.23min, P = 0.017, respectively) and lower accumulative complications (33.3% vs 80.5%, P = 0.008). ConclusionsLaparoscopic F915 MMA is an innovative device that can assist LH in a safe, feasible and flexible manner.