Investigation into the temperature field produced during endometrial cryosurgery of the perfused human uterus.
To establish treatment standards for endometrial cryosurgery the surgeon must have full control over the cryolesion and be able to predict the growth rate of the ice ball. To determine the temperature profile within this ice ball a perfusion technique was developed for the human uterus, and is described here. Endometrial cryosurgery was then performed on the perfused organ and the thermal gradients within the ice ball measured with suitably positioned thermocouples and recording equipment. Experimental results have been compared with mathematical prediction. The results indicate that, for a 3.0 min freeze using a 6.4 mm diameter liquid nitrous oxide cryoprobe, the first 0.5 mm of tissue is reduced to below -20.0 degrees C, and the first 3.0 mm of tissue to below 0 degrees C. This technique of ice-ball thermal mapping in the perfused uterus may be used to assess different cryosystems and their potential to destroy endometrial tissue.
D003080:Cold Temperature; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010477:Perfusion; D013821:Thermometers; D014599:Uterus