A multicentre controlled study of the InLine radiofrequency ablation device for liver transection.
BACKGROUND
Surgical resection is the most effective therapy for liver cancer. Intraoperative blood loss during liver resection remains a major concern due to association with higher postoperative complications. The InLine radiofrequency ablation device (ILRFA) has achieved promising results in liver surgery with minimal blood loss and no increase of postoperative complications. In this multicentre controlled study, 108 patients undergoing liver resection were investigated.


METHODS
A total of 108 patients underwent liver resections in 4 medical centres; the prospective sequential cohort study consisted of 54 ILRFA and 54 ultrasonic surgical aspirator transections as the control group.


RESULTS
The type of liver resection performed was very similar in both groups. The median number of RFA deployments was 3 (range 1-12) with a median coagulation time of 9 (range 3-36) min. Median blood loss was 165+/-20 ml (range 5-675) in the ILRFA and 654+/-83 ml (range 80-3600) in the control group (p<0.001). The median transection time was 27 (2-219) min in the ILRFA group and 35 (5-62) min in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates that ILRFA device for liver transection is effective in reducing blood loss and is safe. Precoagulation before parenchymal transection appears to be a valid concept in liver surgery. The avoidance of vascular inflow occlusion during parenchymal transection could also be of value.
Yao
Peng
P
University of New South Wales, Department of Surgery, St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Chu
Frank
F
Daniel
Steve
S
Gunasegaram
Aravin
A
Yan
Tristan
T
Lindemann
Werner
W
Pistorius
Georg
G
Schilling
Martin
M
Machi
Junji
J
Zuckerman
Randall
R
Morris
David L
DL