title: Severe complications with irreversible electroporation of the pancreas in the presence of a metallic stent: a warning of a procedure that never should be performed.
abstract: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an ablation technique that is being investigated as a potential treatment of pancreatic cancer. However, many of these patients have a metallic stent in the bile duct, which is recognized as a contraindication for IRE ablation. We report a case in which an IRE ablation in the region of the pancreatic head was performed on a patient with a metallic stent which led to severe complications. After the treatment, the patient suffered from several complications including perforation of the duodenum and transverse colon, and bleeding from a branch of the superior mesenteric artery which eventually lead to her death. Therefore, we believe it is important to be aware of this if an IRE ablation close to a metallic stent is considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Månsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Britt-Marie
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Karlson
keywords: IRE; artery injury; bleeding; bowel perforation; irreversible electroporation; metallic stent; pancreatic cancer