Irreversible electroporation is a local, non-thermal ablation method, where short electrical pulses of high voltage lead to changes in cell membrane permeability and cell death. Recent experimental studies have shown that it does not lead to damage of blood vessels, nerves, bile duct or ureters. The aim of our experimental study was to evaluate the negative effect of irreversible electroporation regarding damage to the vascular wall and porcine pancreatic tissue. Irreversible electroporation of the pancreas was performed in 6 pigs after medial laparotomy. Irreversible electroporation was applied to each pig to the splenic lobe of the pancreas in order to assess damage to the pancreatic tissue and to the duodenal lobe of the pancreas to assess damage to the vascular structure of the pancreatic tissue. Higher ablation electric intensity (minimum 500 V/cm -maximum 1,750 V/cm, step 250 V/cm) in 90 μs pulses was utilized on each pig. After 7 days, macroscopic and microscopic evaluations of en bloc resected specimen (pancreas with duodenum) were performed. During 7 post-ablation days, no deaths or clinical worsening occurred in any of the pigs. Necrotic changes in the pancreatic tissue were recorded at an electric intensity of 750 V/cm. Changes in the outer layers of the wall of the arteries and veins occurred at 1,000 V/cm. Transmural vascular wall damage was not recorded in any case. Irreversible electroporation allows for relatively efficient cell death in the target tissues. Our independent experimental work confirms the safety of this method towards vascular structures located in the ablation zone.
IRE, NanoKnife, ablative methods, vessel, damageTumour destructive (ablative) methods are used in cases where the solid tumour cannot be removed with radical resection or by post resection residual tumour tissue treatment. For ablation various physical modalities are used such as the electric current, ultrasound or heat. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an ablation method using short electrical pulses (~ microseconds) of high voltage. Their effect leads to changes in cell membrane permeability, to the formation of small (nano) pores, and subsequently, to a disorder of cellular homeostasis and apoptosis of exposed cells (Weaver 1995).Unlike electrothermal ablation methods such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation and conventional electric heating, during IRE the thermal effect of electricity is applied. The result is also not negatively affected by cooling the blood flow in large vessels situated close to the ablated tissues (heat sink effect). At the same time there should be no damage to the ligament structures of the blood vessels, nerves, bile ducts or ureters. Charpentier et al. 2010; L i et al. 2011 Thanks to the preservation of vascular stroma, faster tissue regeneration occurs with less scarring, and a positive cellular immune response at the site of ablation was also reported (L i et al. 2012).The aim of our independent in vivo experimental study was to evaluate the effect of IRE re...