Liver Hemostasis by Using Cold Plasma

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Innovation
• Plasma Medicine

Background:

• Surgical resection, particularly liver resection, carries risks of significant blood loss and post-operative bacterial infections.
• Current methods for controlling bleeding and sterilizing surgical sites have limitations.
• There is a need for advanced techniques to mitigate these surgical complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of nonequilibrium cold plasma for hemostasis and sterilization during liver resection.
• To assess the impact of cold plasma treatment on liver tissue and systemic parameters in a rat model.

Main Methods:

• Atypical liver resection was performed on Wistar rats, followed by coagulation with cold plasma.
• Control group received no treatment; experimental group underwent plasma coagulation.
• Histological, biochemical, and hemocoagulation parameters were analyzed at multiple time points post-intervention.
• Sterilization tests were conducted to confirm plasma's bactericidal properties.

Main Results:

• Cold plasma achieved rapid hemostasis, with bleeding cessation in under 1 minute and negligible blood loss.
• Histological analysis showed temporary hepatocyte dystrophy, which resolved within 30 days.
• Biochemical analysis revealed only significant differences in glucose levels (P < .05) between groups.
• Sterilization tests confirmed high bactericidal efficiency of the cold plasma application.

Conclusions:

• Nonequilibrium cold plasma is highly effective for hemostasis during liver resection.
• Cold plasma exhibits significant bactericidal properties, crucial for preventing surgical site infections.
• This study demonstrates the potential of cold plasma as an advanced tool to enhance surgical safety and outcomes.