Irreversible electroporation of the pancreas is feasible and safe in a porcine survival model.
OBJECTIVE
Use of thermal tumor ablation in the pancreatic parenchyma is limited because of the risk of pancreatitis, pancreatic fistula, or hemorrhage. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of irreversible electroporation (IRE) in a porcine model.


METHODS
Ten pigs were divided into 2 study groups. In the first group, animals received IRE of the pancreatic tail and were killed after 60 minutes. In the second group, animals received IRE at the head of the pancreas and were followed up for 7 days. Clinical parameters, computed tomography imaging, laboratory results, and histology were obtained.


RESULTS
All animals survived IRE ablation, and no cardiac adverse effects were noted. Sixty minutes after IRE, a hypodense lesion on computed tomography imaging indicated the ablation zone. None of the animals developed clinical signs of acute pancreatitis. Only small amounts of ascites fluid, with a transient increase in amylase and lipase levels, were observed, indicating that no pancreatic fistula occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
This porcine model shows that IRE is feasible and safe in the pancreatic parenchyma. Computed tomography imaging reveals significant changes at 60 minutes after IRE and therefore might serve as an early indicator of therapeutic success. Clinical studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of IRE in pancreatic cancer.
From the *Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, †Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, ‡Institute of Pathology, and §Department of Anesthesiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg; and ‖Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery LMU, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Stefan
S
Fritz
Christof M
CM
Sommer
Dominik
D
Vollherbst
Miguel F
MF
Wachter
Thomas
T
Longerich
Milena
M
Sachsenmeier
Jürgen
J
Knapp
Boris A
BA
Radeleff
Jens
J
Werner
D055011:Ablation Techniques; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018274:Electroporation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D023421:Models, Animal; D009336:Necrosis; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015415:Biomarkers; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases