In-line radiofrequency ablation to minimize blood loss in hepatic parenchymal transection.
BACKGROUND
Intraoperative blood loss has been shown to be an important factor correlating with morbidity and mortality in liver surgery. A 5-cm long instrument with variably deployable metal electrodes using in-line radiofrequency ablation (ILRFA) energy was used for hepatic transection in an attempt to reduce bleeding.


METHODS
Eight patients underwent liver resection. At each resection, half the resection was performed with ILRFA and the other half was performed with an ultrasonic aspirator alone. Blood loss was measured for each mode of resection.


RESULTS
The mean blood loss using ILRFA was 6.5 (+/-3.7) mL/cm(2) compared with 20.4 (+/-8.7) mL/cm(2) by using the ultrasonic aspirator (P = .004).


CONCLUSIONS
In-line radiofrequency ablation reduced bleeding during hepatic parenchymal transection when compared with the ultrasonic aspirator.
The University of New South Wales, Department of Surgery, St George Hospital, Kogarah, NSW 2217, Australia.
Koroush S
KS
Haghighi
Frank
F
Wang
Julie
J
King
Steven
S
Daniel
David L
DL
Morris
D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome