A pig model of hepatic cryotherapy. In vivo temperature distribution during freezing and histopathological changes

Abstract We aimed to assess the temperature distribution in the cryolesion during hepatic cryotherapy and the association with postoperative histological changes to optimise the technique and allow better preoperative planning. Hepatic cryolesions were produced in 22 pigs following laparotomy using a CMS-cryosystem and 8 mm-AccuProbe-Cryoprobes. The temperature was measured in 1 min intervals at different distances from the probe during freezing. The animals were treated in 5 groups: (i) single freezing of 20 min; (ii) double freezing of 20 min each; (iii) single freezing of 40 min; (iv) single freezing of 20  min ( n =4), histology at 1 week p.o., and (v) single freezing of 20 min and Pringle manoeuvre; [(i)–(iii) and (v): histology at 24 h p.o.]. The mean diameter of the −38 °C isotherm, i.e., the zone of effective treatment for colorectal metastases was 37 mm for group (i) with a mean iceball diameter of 59 mm and about 46 mm for groups (ii, iii, and v) with mean iceball diameters of 78, 75, and 75 mm, respectively. At 7 days postoperatively secondary necrosis was seen in the largest central part of the lesion, wherever temperatures of −15 °C or lower were achieved during cryosurgery. Under the hypothesis that −38 °C is the effective temperature for the destruction of colorectal liver metastases, a lesion of 37-mm diameter may be effectively treated with a single 8 mm-AccuProbe-Cryoprobe and a 20 min single freeze cycle and a lesion of 46 mm may be effectively treated when a double freeze–thaw cycle of 20 min each, a single freeze cycle of 40 min, or a 20  min single freeze cycle with additional Pringle manoeuvre is used, when it is perfectly placed in the lesion.