title: Controlled study of Inline radiofrequency coagulation-assisted partial nephrectomy in sheep.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary or secondary tumors of kidney often are managed by partial nephrectomy. Intraoperative blood loss can be significant. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy may be even more challenging. We developed the Inline radiofrequency coagulation (ILRFA) probe for liver surgery. It uses radiofrequency energy to make a linear coagulative plane and considerably reduces bleeding during parenchymal transection. In this stud,y we tested the efficiency of ILRFA in ovine kidney.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven sheep were used in this study. Under general anesthetic, a laparotomy was performed in each sheep. The first two sheep were used as pilot experiments. Five partial nephrectomies were made in the remaining five sheep using ILRFA. As a control, a matching partial nephrectomy was made in each sheep using diathermy and sutures. Blood loss was measured by determining the difference in the weights of dry sponges and blood stained sponges after resection. A paired t test was used to compare the bleeding between the control and the ILRFA technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean blood loss using ILRFA was 33.14 g (SD 17) and 123.43 g (SD 72) in the control group. The bleeding was significantly reduced in the ILRFA group, with a P value of 0.0056. The time taken for applying the ILRFA was 3-4 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have achieved partial nephrectomy in ovine kidney using radiofrequency energy with significantly reduced blood loss.
authors.affiliation: UNSW Department of Surgery, St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Koroush S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Haghighi
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steinke
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hazratwala
authors.forename: Peter C A
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Kam
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007813:Laparotomy; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012756:Sheep