title: Protection of skin with subcutaneous administration of 5% dextrose in water during superficial radiofrequency ablation in a rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was to evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneous administration of 5% dextrose in water (D5W), to prevent skin injury during radiofrequency (RF) ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four rabbits were divided into three groups: a pre-injection group, a perfusion group, and a control group. Ablative zones were created in the superficial part of the thigh muscle for 6 min. A needle was placed subcutaneously for injection of D5W, and a thermal sensor was positioned nearby for real-time temperature monitoring. The sizes of the ablative zones were measured by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, and severity of the observed skin injury were scored semi-quantitatively and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest temperature, the duration of the temperature above 50 °C, and the rise time of the post-procedure temperature were all highest in the control group (p < 0.001), while these values were lower in the perfusion group than those in the pre-injection group (p < 0.001). Post-procedure skin injury was most severe in the control group (p < 0.001). On post-procedure day 1, no significant difference was found between the skin injury of the pre-injection group and the perfusion group (p = 0.091), while the skin injury of the perfusion group was less severe than that of the pre-injection group on post-procedure day 14 (p = 0.004). No significant difference was found in the sizes of the ablative zones among the groups (p = 0.720).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subcutaneous perfusion with D5W is effective in protecting the skin against burns during RF ablation without compromising the effect of ablation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University , Zhuhai .
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xia-Lei
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wu-Zhu
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jian-Zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Xian
authors.forename: Bai-Meng
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055104:Infusions, Subcutaneous; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Protection; rabbit; radiofrequency ablation; skin