Does selective intubation increase ablation zone size during pulmonary cryoablation?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of selective intubation on ablation zone size during pulmonary cryoablation.


METHODS
Selective bronchial intubation and aeration was performed in three domestic swine. A total of 20 cryoablations (ventilated, n = 10; nonventilated, n = 10) were performed. The animals were immediately sacrificed, and their lungs were removed and sectioned along the axis of ablation in 5-mm intervals. The diameter and area of the ablation zone were recorded, and the isoperimetric ratio (measure of circularity) and estimated volume were calculated.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in maximum diameter, minimum diameter, area, circularity, or estimated volume of the ablation zones between the aerated and nonaerated groups (mean diameter, 2.4 cm vs 2.4 cm, respectively, P = .99; area, 4.6 cm(2) vs 4.8 cm(2), P = .7; circularity, 0.94 vs 0.94, P = .99; estimated volume, 11.5 cm(3) vs 11.3 cm(3), P = .99).


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to radiofrequency ablation, selective bronchial intubation did not have a significant effect on the resulting ablation zones. This suggests that selective intubation may not be warranted in the setting of pulmonary cryoablation.
Hinshaw
J Louis
JL
Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, E3/311 CSC, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792, USA. jhinshaw@uwhealth.org
Sampson
Lisa
L
Lee
Fred T
FT
Laeseke
Paul F
PF
Brace
Christopher L
CL
D000818:Animals; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007440:Intubation / Q000379:methods*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine