Value of artificial ascites assisted thermal ablation for hepatic tumors adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract on patients with a history of abdominal surgery

Abstract

Objective To assess the safety and effectiveness of artificial ascites assisted thermal ablation for hepatic tumors adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract in patients with a history of abdominal surgery. Methods Thirty-two patients (33 lesions located adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract) with a history of abdominal surgery were included in the study. Method①: normal saline was injected into abdominal cavity to form water insulation band between liver and gastrointestinal tract. Method②: normal saline was injected with appropriate pressure to form local water insulation band between the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Method③: normal saline was injected continuously at the interval between liver and gastrointestinal tract to flush away heat energy caused by ablation. All the patients were checked for gastrointestinal tract injury after ablation. During one month after ablation, CT /MR was performed to evaluate whether the lesions were completely ablated. Results Respectively, the numbers of lesion received method ①, ② and ③ were 27(81.8%), 4(12.1%) and 2(6.1%), while the usage of normal saline were 400~2 000 ml, 600~800 ml and 1 000~1 500 ml. No gastrointestinal tract injury occurred. CT/MR scan during one month after ablation showed that all the 33 lesions had been completely ablated. Conclusions In patients with a history of abdominal surgery, artificial ascites is a safe and effective method in assistance of thermal ablation for hepatic tumors adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract. Key words: Ultrasonography; Liver neoplasms; Catheter ablation; Artificial ascites