title: A new spleen-preserving technique using radiofrequency ablation technology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Splenic salvage is the ultimate goal of the treatment for splenic injury. We experimentally investigated a spleen salvage technique after spleen injury using radiofrequency ablation technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A grade IV spleen trauma was produced in 10 white male Landrace pigs (the lower pole of the spleen was sharply divided at the level where the lower hilar vessel enters the organ) under general anesthesia. A Radionics Cooltip Radio Frequency needle was used to stop the bleeding in every case. The electrode was inserted in four to six different sites and each session lasted for 2 to 6 minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All bleeding sites were controlled intraoperatively with no additional means. Postoperatively, all animals appeared clinically healthy, and at the time the animals were killed, no blood, pus, or other fluid was identified in the abdomen or chest. Subcapsular or perisplenic hematomas were not found either.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that radiofrequency ablation may be used in splenic injury to stop bleeding, especially when blood transfusion or surgery is indicated. This procedure may reduce the frequency of open surgery for repair of the injury, the number of splenectomies, and the amount of blood transfusion required. The advantage of use under ultrasound or computed tomographic guidance or laparoscopically makes it even more appealing. Thus, we suggest that further study in human subjects is required to validate our results.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Felekouras
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kontos
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pissanou
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pikoulis
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drakos
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papalambros
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diamantis
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bastounis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D014945:Wound Healing