[Kidney carboxycryoablation. Pilot study]

The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of low temperatures of carbon dioxide on a "living" blood-supplying organ (pig kidney), to determine the possibility of performing cryoablation of kidney tissue with carbon dioxide (carboxycryoablation), as well as to establish experimentally modes of carboxycryoablation of the kidney.

To carry out this experimental study, a female of the mini-pig line was used. We performed laparoscopic access to the kidney for carboxycryoablation. During the freezing of the kidney, three modes were compared: 60, 90, and 120 s on one kidney of one animal. Immediately after the completion of cryoablation, nephrectomy was performed, and the removed kidney was sent for histological examination. According to the histological study, the results of the use of carbon dioxide during cryoablation of porcine kidney tissue were evaluated.

Cryoablation based on carbon dioxide (carboxycryoablation) leads to irreversible death (necrosis) and destruction of the affected tissue. A direct relationship between the exposure mode and the size of the cryonecrosis zone was noted. Thus, the most extensive zone of necrosis with a diameter of 10 mm was achieved when performing cryoablation in the exposure mode of 120 s.

This experiment showed that carbon dioxide-based cryoablation remains a feasible procedure that leads to irreversible death (necrosis) and destruction of the affected tissue. However, further studies on the safety and efficacy of cryoablation of kidney tissue with carbon dioxide are required.