Authors:
M.-G. Knuttinen, T. G. Van Ha, C. Straus, B. Funaki; Chicago, IL/US
Conclusions
Injury to the diaphragm is a possible drawback when percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is performed near the hepatic dome. We offer a new technique in using a balloon angioplasty catheter as a means to protect the diaphragm during these RF procedures and offer future hope in extending RF treatment to those patients with lesions in these critical areas.
In our preliminary study, we show the feasibility of using this balloon catheter as a way to isolate hepatic dome from the adjacent diaphragm.
Our model of using this balloon catheter offers several advantages:
1. Interventionalists are very familiar with balloon catheter techniques.
2. The balloon catheter provides a protective barrier that stays in position, rather than saline infusion, which has a tendency to dissipate.
3. The risk of bleeding is not increased because the point of entry into the liver remains closely opposed to the abdominal wall, as separation of the diaphragm and liver is localized, and does not involve the region of probe entry.
4. Ultrasound guidance can be used for this technique as both the RFA probe and balloon catheter can be well visualized.