title: Renal cryotherapy in a sheep model; a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of renal cryotherapy as a possible treatment of renal malignancy with preservation of renal parenchyma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten Merino sheep were anaesthetised and the right kidney was exposed through a retro-peritoneal approach. A 5 mm. cryotherapy probe (LCS 3000 Cryotec UK) was inserted into the lower pole of the kidney and freezing was undertaken to form an iceball 5 cm. in diameter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no mortality and no complications were observed. A transient rise in creatinine was observed post-operatively. The sheep were euthenased at 4 weeks and at necropsy macroscopic examination revealed a contracted, fibrotic wedge shaped lesion of 3 cm in diameter. Histological examination of the "cryolesion" revealed a central area of coagulative necrosis and a 5 mm rim of partial necrosis with preservation of renal tubules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that renal cryotherapy is safe and can achieve effective renal necrosis in the sheep model.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, University of New South Wales, St. George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cozzi
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vonthethoff
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003452:Cryosurgery; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012756:Sheep