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Published on: March 3, 2023
Creation of an Ex Vivo Liver Human Model for Microwave Ablation Investigation
Carlos B Ortiz1, Marina Borrego2, Alexander Weinstein3
1Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas; Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
Purpose:
To develop a novel dual-perfused ex vivo model using explanted human research livers to investigate microwave ablation (MWA).
Materials And Methods:
Using standard surgical and transplant preservation techniques, research livers were received from human deceased organ donors after being declined for transplantation. A dual perfusion system was used to obtain normothermic conditions. MWA was then performed using a 2.45-GHz system at 140 W for 6 minutes. MWA zones were segmented along the long axis to obtain short-axis-diameter (SAD) and long-axis-diameter (LAD) measurements.
Results:
A total of 7 perfused ex vivo human livers underwent successful perfusion and MWA procedures. Continuous bile production was observed in 5 (71.4%) of the perfused livers, including 2 cirrhotic livers. Perfused MWA resulted in significantly smaller MWA dimensions than nonperfused ablations with mean gross specimen comparisons as follows (21 perfused MWAs vs 13 nonperfused MWAs): SAD, 3.1 cm (SD ± 0.4) versus 4.1 cm (SD ± 0.5) (P < .001), and LAD, 4.7 cm (SD ± 0.6) versus 6.2 cm (SD ± 0.4) (P < .001). Analysis by tissue type demonstrated decreased perfused MWA zones with steatosis compared with those with cirrhosis (15 perfused steatosis MWAs vs 6 perfused cirrhosis MWAs): SAD, 3.0 cm (SD ± 0.2) versus 3.4 cm (SD ± 0.5) (P < .05), and LAD, 4.5 cm (SD ± 0.6) versus 5.1 cm (SD ± 0.3 cm) (P < .05).
Conclusions:
The authors report the creation of an ex vivo human liver model for MWA research with the ability to reproduce the heat sink effect and study different human tissue types.
