Maximal host tolerance to large‐volume hepatic radiofrequency ablation in a rat model

Abstract

This is an in vivo study on normal and cirrhotic Sprague‐Dawlay rats to investigate the possible systemic responses of large‐volume hepatic radiofrequency ablation and to estimate its maximal host tolerance. Cool‐tip® RF System was used to ablate different percentage of liver volume in normal and cirrhotic rats. Systemic responses in terms of systemic inflammatory marker changes and end‐organ functions were determined. For the normal liver groups, the concentrations of systemic inflammatory markers were significantly elevated in early postoperative period when 50 and 60% of the liver volume were ablated, compared with the control group. Derangement of coagulation profile and interstitial penumonitis occurred after 50 and 60% of the liver volume were ablated. The survival rate was 100%, 60% and 0% when 40%, 50% and 60% of liver volume were ablated, respectively. Similar systemic responses were observed among the cirrhotic liver groups when 30 and 40% of the liver volume were ablated. The survival rate was 100%, 40% and 0% when 20%, 30% and 40% of the cirrhotic liver were ablated, respectively. The normal rats can tolerate hepatic RFA procedure maximally when 40% of the liver volume is ablated, whereas the cirrhotic rats can only tolerate RFA of 20% of the liver volume.