The majority of liver tumours are inoperable and an alternative treatment to surgical resection is urgently needed. Electrolysis has been investigated in a rat model and the procedure is safe, with accurate and predictable effects. The necrosis produced has also been shown to cause destruction of tumour deposits in the rat liver. A similar evaluation in a large animal model was necessary before clinical trials could commence. Using platinum electrodes connected to a d.c. generator, areas of hepatic necrosis were created in the pig liver. Animals were killed at various time points after treatment to assess the extent of healing. Treatment was uneventful and all animals made a full recovery. No animal died from the treatment or had to be killed prematurely. After 2 days of treatment, healing was minimal but at successive time points there was progressive evidence of healing, such that after 4 months, the original electrolytic lesion was greatly reduced in size and the large area of necrosis seen at the early time points was largely replaced by a fibrous scar with only small islands of necrotic tissue. In a large animal model, electrolysis is a safe method for creating areas of hepatic necrosis. The lesions heal with time and are associated with minimal morbidity. The results support a trial of electrolysis in patients with unresectable liver tumours.
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Research Article|
April 05 2000
A new treatment for unresectable liver tumours: long-term studies of electrolytic lesions in the pig liver
Simon A. WEMYSS-HOLDEN;
Simon A. WEMYSS-HOLDEN
1University of Adelaide, Department of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia, 5011, Australia
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Gavin S. M. ROBERTSON;
Gavin S. M. ROBERTSON
1University of Adelaide, Department of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia, 5011, Australia
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Ashley R. DENNISON;
Ashley R. DENNISON
1University of Adelaide, Department of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia, 5011, Australia
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Paula S. VANDERZON;
Paula S. VANDERZON
1University of Adelaide, Department of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia, 5011, Australia
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Pauline de la M. HALL;
Pauline de la M. HALL
1University of Adelaide, Department of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia, 5011, Australia
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Guy J. MADDERN
1University of Adelaide, Department of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia, 5011, Australia
Correspondence: Professor G. J. Maddern (e-mail [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
October 07 1999
Accepted:
January 18 2000
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society © 2000
2000
Clin Sci (Lond) (2000) 98 (5): 561–567.
Article history
Received:
October 07 1999
Accepted:
January 18 2000
Citation
Simon A. WEMYSS-HOLDEN, Gavin S. M. ROBERTSON, Ashley R. DENNISON, Paula S. VANDERZON, Pauline de la M. HALL, Guy J. MADDERN; A new treatment for unresectable liver tumours: long-term studies of electrolytic lesions in the pig liver. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 May 2000; 98 (5): 561–567. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0980561
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