Liver hemostasis using high-intensity focused ultrasound

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Medical Ultrasound
• Surgical Hemostasis

Background:

• Liver hemorrhage is a primary cause of mortality in hepatic trauma.
• Controlling bleeding in liver injuries remains a significant clinical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in arresting liver hemorrhage.
• To investigate the mechanism of hemostasis induced by HIFU in liver tissue.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a HIFU transducer (3.3 MHz, 4 cm focal length) on liver incisions in rabbit models.
• Measured bleeding reduction and maximum tissue temperature during HIFU application.
• Performed histological examination to confirm the mechanism of hemostasis.

Main Results:

• HIFU reduced hemorrhage in approximately 94% of liver incisions to a slow ooze within 2 minutes.
• Maximum tissue temperature near the incision reached 86°C.
• Histological analysis revealed coagulative necrosis as the mechanism of hemostasis.

Conclusions:

• Acoustic hemostasis using HIFU demonstrates significant potential for controlling liver bleeding.
• The "volume cauterization" effect of HIFU offers a novel and clinically relevant method for managing hepatic hemorrhage.