Microwave Ablation Research Projects
Title
Validation of a working ex-vivo porcine liver perfusion model for experimental studies of hepatic ablation
Background to the Project
Microwave ablation is increasingly used in the treatment of liver malignancy. However, further research is required to refine and progress the technique to become a fully established and successful treatment modality. Traditionally, experimental studies of hepatic ablation required the use of live animals. This study will adopt an innovative ex vivo porcine liver perfusion model to undertake a series of experiments using microwave ablation. The aim is to demonstrate the validity of this model for experimental studies of hepatic ablation and to develop it into an established model for future research.
The ex vivo liver perfusion model, to be adopted in this study, will involve the liver being perfused normothermically using autologous heparinised blood. The perfusion circuit consists of an oxygenator, a heat exchanger, a centrifugal pump, a reservoir, a flow probe, two pressure transducers, tubing and connectors. It is logical that a normothermically perfused ex vivo functioning liver offers an appropriate model for microwave ablation experiments.
Advantages of using such model include:
1. Ethical – it does not use living animals.
2. Financial – significantly less cost then using live animals.
3. Physical and physiological control – greater flexibility with experiment parameters (than studies on living animals) using an isolated perfusion model. Ready control of perfusion characteristics e.g. adjusting hepatic / portal pressure and flow. Also ready for control of inflow and outflow components, e.g. Pringle’s manoeuvre.
Disadvantages of using such model include:
1. The model has a limited lifespan (<12 hours) hence all assessment are limited to the early period following microwave ablation.
2. Absence of other interacting organ systems which may have a role in generating systemic response following microwave ablation.
Implications for Future Research
The logical progression would be to use the ex vivo porcine liver perfusion model to support further research into other ablative techniques. In addition, this model could be extrapolated further to assess hepatic elimination of pharmaceuticals and toxins. This is a more cost effective and ethical research method as compared with live animal experiments.
Microwave ablation is increasingly used in the treatment of liver malignancy. However, further research is required to refine and progress the technique to become a fully established and successful treatment modality. Traditionally, experimental studies of hepatic ablation required the use of live animals. This study will adopt an innovative ex vivo porcine liver perfusion model to undertake a series of experiments using microwave ablation. The aim is to demonstrate the validity of this model for experimental studies of hepatic ablation and to develop it into an established model for future research.
The ex vivo liver perfusion model, to be adopted in this study, will involve the liver being perfused normothermically using autologous heparinised blood. The perfusion circuit consists of an oxygenator, a heat exchanger, a centrifugal pump, a reservoir, a flow probe, two pressure transducers, tubing and connectors. It is logical that a normothermically perfused ex vivo functioning liver offers an appropriate model for microwave ablation experiments.
Advantages of using such model include:
1. Ethical – it does not use living animals.
2. Financial – significantly less cost then using live animals.
3. Physical and physiological control – greater flexibility with experiment parameters (than studies on living animals) using an isolated perfusion model. Ready control of perfusion characteristics e.g. adjusting hepatic / portal pressure and flow. Also ready for control of inflow and outflow components, e.g. Pringle’s manoeuvre.
Disadvantages of using such model include:
1. The model has a limited lifespan (<12 hours) hence all assessment are limited to the early period following microwave ablation.
2. Absence of other interacting organ systems which may have a role in generating systemic response following microwave ablation.
Implications for Future Research
The logical progression would be to use the ex vivo porcine liver perfusion model to support further research into other ablative techniques. In addition, this model could be extrapolated further to assess hepatic elimination of pharmaceuticals and toxins. This is a more cost effective and ethical research method as compared with live animal experiments.
