The safety of radiofrequency ablation near major intrahepatic bile ducts

Abstract

Objective This study was conducted to assess the safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA)in treating dog hepatic tissue near major intrahepatic bile ducts in order to provide data for rational use in clinical practice.Methods RFA was conducted on 40 dogs that were divided randomly into four groups.The RFA needles had a diameter of (20.0±0.3)mm,and the RFA power started at 5 W and increased 5 W each minute.The RFA treated hepatic tissues were various distances to intrahepatic bile ducts(1.0-2.9 mm,3.0-4.9 mm,5.0-7.9 mm,8.0 10.0 mm).After RFA,the complications,reactions,presence of bilirubin in blood,and pathological changes of the bile ducts were observed.Results When RFA treated hepatic tissue was 1.0 to 2.9 mm from major intrahepatic bile ducts,the general postoperative state of the dog was worse,the bilirubin had increased,there were serious complications,and the associated intrahepatic ducts had complete necrosis.When RFA treated hepatic tissue was 3.0 to 4.9 mm away from major intrahepatic bile ducts,the general postoperative state of the dog was worse,the bilirubin had increased,there were serious complications,and parts of the correlated intrahepatic bile ducts were necrotic or possessed vacuolar degeneration.When RFA treated hepatic tissue was 5.0 to 10 mm away from major intrahepatic bile ducts,the general postoperative state was good,the bilirubin had only increased slightly,there were no serious complications,and the associated bile ducts were either normal or had vacuolar changes.Conclusions Therefore,it is safe to perform RFA over 5mm in distance to the major intrahepatic bile ducts. Key words: Radiofrequency ablation; Intrahepatic bile ducts; Biliary duct injury; Safety