A novel internal cold circulation radiofrequency-assisted device for liver transection

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Oncology
• Radiofrequency Ablation Technologies

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health concern.
• Radiofrequency-assisted liver resection (RALR) is a common surgical approach for HCC.
• Optimizing RALR devices is crucial for improving surgical outcomes and patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the safety and efficacy of a novel internal cold circulation bipolar radiofrequency device (New-RF) against the established Habib-4X bipolar radiofrequency device.
• To evaluate the performance of New-RF in liver tumor resection, focusing on key surgical parameters.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 85 patients with HCC undergoing RALR between February 2017 and January 2020.
• Patients were divided into two groups: 45 receiving New-RF and 40 receiving Habib-4X.
• Primary outcome measures included liver transection speed, coagulation width, hemorrhage volume, transfusion rate, and operation time.

Main Results:

• New-RF demonstrated a significantly faster liver transection speed (4.81 cm²/min vs 3.64 cm²/min) and shorter operation time (55.04 min vs 64.02 min) compared to Habib-4X.
• The New-RF group exhibited a narrower coagulation width (1.42 cm² vs 1.81 cm²) and a lower rate of needle path bleeding (13.3% vs 35.0%).
• A significantly lower carbonization rate of the electrode needle was observed with New-RF (22.2% vs 77.8%).

Conclusions:

• The new internal cold circulation bipolar radiofrequency device is a safe and effective auxiliary tool for liver resection.
• New-RF offers advantages over Habib-4X, including faster resection, reduced electrode needle carbonization, and more precise coagulation.
• This technology holds promise for improving the efficiency and safety of radiofrequency-assisted liver resection.