Real-time ultrasound imaging of irreversible electroporation in a porcine liver model adequately characterizes the zone of cellular necrosis.

Background:   Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a largely non-thermal method for the ablation of solid tumours. The ability of ultrasound (US) to measure the size of the IRE ablation zone was studied in a porcine liver model.

Methods:   Three normal pig livers were treated in vivo with a total of 22 ablations using IRE.

Gastric plication: preclinical study of durability of serosa-to-serosa apposition.

Background: Vertical gastric plication is a novel surgical approach for reducing the stomach capacity. Anterior surface plication and greater curvature plication are variations of vertical gastric plication that reduce the gastric capacity through infolding of the anterior surface or greater curvature of the stomach, respectively. These approaches have been tested, with positive results in a small number of preclinical and clinical trials.

Can harmonic focus curved shear effectively seal the pancreatic ducts and prevent pancreatic leak? Feasibility evaluation and testing in ex vivo and in vivo porcine models.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of Harmonic energy technology to transect and seal the pancreatic duct compared with the standard monopolar electrosurgery transection and oversew technique in a porcine distal pancreatectomy survival model. Harmonic energy technology is as effective as standard oversew technique for preventing pancreatic leak after distal pancreatectomy.

Methods: The animal protocol used for this study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to the conduct of the study.