Absorbable Gelatin Hydrodissection in Hepatic Thermal Ablations: Initial Outcomes.

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Oncology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Thermal ablation is a key treatment for liver tumors.
• Protecting adjacent organs during ablation is crucial.
• Current methods for organ protection have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of absorbable gelatin sponge hydrodissection.
• To assess its ability to displace adjacent vital organs during hepatic thermal ablation.
• To determine its impact on treatment effectiveness and complications.

Main Methods:

• Absorbable gelatin sponge hydrodissection was employed in 31 hepatic thermal ablation cases (23 microwave, 8 radiofrequency).
• Key metrics included vital organ displacement, peri-procedural complications, and tumor non-viability.
• Follow-up included contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging.

Main Results:

• Successful vital organ displacement (≥5 mm) was achieved in 97% of cases.
• No organ injuries were reported.
• Tumor non-viability was confirmed in 96% of treated lesions post-ablation.

Conclusions:

• Absorbable gelatin hydrodissection is a safe and feasible adjunct for thermal ablation near critical organs.
• This technique effectively protects adjacent structures like the stomach, bowel, colon, and gallbladder.
• Further research comparing it with other thermoprotective methods is recommended.