The Use of Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation Method in The Treatment of Hepatic Hydatid Cysts: Ex vivo Sheep Study

Abstract

Hydatid disease is a disease caused by parasites belonging to the echinococcus family. This disease is often caused by Echinococcus granulosus and rarely by echinococcus alveolaris.The parasite may cause illness anywhere in the human body, mainly in liver. In this study, we aimed to destroy the hydatid cyst viability by Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation (RFTA) method which has been used in many areas in medicine. We used fresh sheep liver with hydatid cysts. Average diameter of cysts was 3.3 cm. The study was performed in 3 groups, each of which involved 20 cysts. After more than half of the cyst fluid was drained, ablation was performed. When the core temperature of the cyst exceeded 95°C, ablation procedure was continued for 3 minute in 1st group and for 4 minutes in 2nd group. Third group was the control group. And then, cyst fluid and germinative membrane were collected for microbiologic and pathologic assessment. In 1st group, the cysts could not be destroyed at the desired level. In 2nd group, it was observed that 100% of the protoscolex died and 100% of the germinative membranes was degenerated. In control group, %13 of protoscolex died and %10 of germinative membranes wasdegenerated. We destroyed all the protoscolex and germinative membranes by using RFTA in 2nd group.