Prevention of biliary lesions that may occur during radiofrequency ablation of the liver: study on the pig.

Objective: To prevent bile duct injury by using a cold 5% glucose isotonic solution cooling in the bile ducts when radiofrequency (RF) is performed in a porcine model.

Summary Background Data: Complications that may arise during liver RF ablation include biliary stenosis and abscesses.

Methods: The RITA 1500 generator was used for the experiments. Two lesions were performed in the left liver. The pigs were killed 1 or 3 weeks after the procedure. An ex vivo cholangiogram was obtained by direct injection into the main bile duct. Samples of RF lesions, of liver parenchyma near and at a distance from the RF lesions, underwent pathologic studies. Two groups of 20 pigs each were treated: one without perfusion of the bile ducts and the other with perfusion of cold 5% glucose isotonic solution into the bile ducts. The Pringle maneuver was used in 50% of the RF procedures. Radiologic lesions were classified as biliary stenosis, complete interruption of the bile duct, or extravasation of the radiologic contrast liquid.

Results: Histologic lesions of the bile ducts were observed near the ablated RF lesion site and at a distance from the RF lesions when a Pringle maneuver was performed. Radiologic and histologic lesions of the bile ducts were significantly reduced (P < 0.0001) when the bile ducts were cooled.

Conclusions: Cooling of the bile ducts with a cold 5% glucose isotonic solution significantly protects the intrahepatic bile ducts from damages caused by the heat generated by RF when performed close to the bile ducts.