title: Unintended thermal injuries from radiofrequency ablation: organ protection with an angioplasty balloon catheter in an animal model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate a novel approach of using a balloon catheter as a protective device to separate liver from the diaphragm or nearby bowel during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatic dome tumors in an animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  All experimental procedures were approved by animal Institutional Review Board. Using a 3 cm RF needle electrode, 70 hepatic ablation zones were created using ultrasound in 7 pigs. 50 lesions were created using balloon interposition between liver and diaphragm; 20 lesions were created using the balloon device interposed posteriorly between liver and bowel. Additional 21 control lesions were performed. Animals were sacrificed immediately; diaphragm and bowel were then visually inspected and sectioned. Diaphragmatic and bowel injury was then classified according to the depth of thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Control lesions caused full thickness injury, either to diaphragm or bowel. During ablation of lesions with balloon interposition, there was significantly less diaphragmatic injury, P < 0.001 and less bowel injury, P < 0.01.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using balloon interposition as a protective device has advantages over previous saline infusion or CO2 insufflation, providing a safe way to expand percutaneous RFA of liver tumors located on the undersurface of the diaphragm. In addition, this method may be used in protection of other organs adjacent to areas being ablated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Martha-Grace
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Knuttinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Thuong G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Van Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montag
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Straus
keywords: Ablation; diaphragm; liver tumor; organ protection