ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical feasibility and safety of CT-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for peripheral solitary pulmonary nodules.MethodsThe imaging and clinical data of 33 patients with pulmonary nodule less than 3 cm in diameter treated by CT-guided microwave ablation treatment (PMAT) in our hospital from July 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 21 males and 12 females aged 38-90 (67.6±13.4) years. Among them, 26 patients were confirmed with lung cancer by biopsy and 7 patients were clinically considered as partial malignant lesions. The average diameter of 33 nodules was 0.6-3.0 (1.8±0.6) cm. The 3- and 6-month follow-up CT was performed to evaluate the therapy method by comparing the diameter and enhancement degree of lesions with 1-month CT manifestation. Short-term treatment analysis including complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD) was calculated according to the WHO modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumor (mRECIST) for short-term efficacy evaluation. Eventually the result of response rate (RR) was calculated. Progression-free survival was obtained by Kaplan–Meier analysis.ResultsCT-guided percutaneous microwave ablation was successfully conducted in all patients. Three patients suffered slight pneumothorax. There were 18 (54.5%) patients who achieved CR, 9 (27.3%) patients PR, 4 (12.1%) patients SD and 2 (6.1%) patients PD. The short-term follow-up effective rate was 81.8%. Logistic analysis demonstrated that primary and metastatic pulmonary nodules had no difference in progression-free time (log-rank P=0.624).ConclusionPMAT is of high success rate for the treatment of solitary pulmonary nodules without severe complications, which can be used as an effective alternative treatment for nonsurgical candidates.
Objective To explore efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of large hepatocarcinoma. MethodsFortythree cases of large hepatocarcinoma underwent RFA with the expandable cluster electrode,eight of all cases had undergone transcatheter artery chemoembolization (TAE) for 1-2 sessions within 2 months before RFA; the tumors were 5-10 cm in diameter, mean 7.5 cm. Hepatic function examination, alphafetoprotein, enhanced CT scans,color ultrasonography and needle biopsy were performed,pre and posttreatment. Complete necrosis was evaluated by dynamic enhanced CT scans and biopsy. Therapeutic time and sessions of RFA,length of stay in hospital and complications of RFA were observed; and thirtynine of 43 cases after RFA were followed up for 12-18 months.ResultsFortythree cases of large hepatocarcinoma received RFA for 67 sessions， 1-3 sessions per case，mean 1.6 sessions; therapeutic time 55-150 min,mean 75 min; length of stay in hospital 3-15 day， mean 8.7 day; major complications of RFA included local skin burn of electrode board in 2 cases （4.6%） and moderatetolarge right pleural effusion in 3 cases （7.0%），overall complications rate was 11.6%; complete necrosis was achieved in 41.0% of cases which were evaluated by dynamic enhanced CT scans at least 6 months followed RFA; of thirtyone cases of positive AFP, AFP level became negative in 3,decreased obviously in 5 within 6-12 months after RFA; in 12-18 months followup,oneyear survival rate was 69.2%.Conclusion RFA appears to be safe, effective and minor invasive for the treatment of large hepatocarcinoma.
Objective To analyze the current status and hotspots of surgical transmural ablation of atrial fibrillation using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. MethodsThe Web of Science Core Collection database was used as the data source. The CiteSpace 5.8.R3 and VOSviewer software were used to analyze the related studies on surgical transmural ablation of atrial fibrillation about the authors, countries/institutions, literature co-citation and keywords. Results A total of 109 articles were enrolled. Damiano RJ was the most prolific researcher, while Cox JL was the author with the highest number of citations. The United States was the leading country in this research field. The University of Washington was an important institution in the study of atrial fibrillation transmural ablation. The main hotpots were the effectiveness of surgical ablation, especially Cox-maze procedure, selection of the energy source of surgical ablation, combination of surgical and catheter ablations, and pulmonary vein isolation. ConclusionThis study visualizes the current research status of surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. How to improve the effectiveness and transmurality of surgical ablation is a hot research topic in the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. The combination of electrophysiology mapping and surgical ablation may be the development direction in the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation.
The precise anatomical division of liver segments is the foundation of liver surgery, while the anatomical division of the S9 segment of liver is a further precise division of the caudate lobe of the liver. This article retrospectively analyzed and summarized the precise minimally invasive ablation and follow-up results of four representative lesions of the S9 segment of liver, including primary liver cancer, recurrent liver cancer, metastatic liver cancer, and focal liver hyperplasia, treated at Affiliated Dongguan Hospital of Southern Medical University. The aim of this study is to explore the minimally invasive ablation effect of lesions located at the S9 segment of liver under CT guidance.
Objective To investigate the preliminary experience, the evolution of surgical approach of multidisciplinary therapy for atrial fibrillation and the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 69 patients with stand-alone surgical ablation with or without transcatheter radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in our center from January 2015 to May 2017. There were 50 males and 19 females at average age of 57.2 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to the surgical approach including a median sternotomy group (n=9), a left unilateral thoracoscopy group (n=7) and a bilateral thoracoscopy group (n=53). One (11.1%) patient, 3 (42.9%) patients and 26 (49.1%) patients received transcatheter mapping and radiofrequency ablation after surgical ablation in each group, respectively. Results The mean follow-up time in the median sternotomy group was 10.2 months. All 9 patients maintained sinus rhythm. The mean follow-up time of the left unilateral thoracoscopy group was 7.4 months. Five (71.4%) patients maintained sinus rhythm. While the mean follow-up time of the bilateral thoracoscopy group was 5.0 months. Forty-seven (88.7%) patients maintained sinus rhythm. There was no perioperative death, or death, stroke, major bleeding nor pulmonary vein stenosis during follow-up. Conclusion The classic Cox-Maze Ⅳ procedure with high success rate is still the basic operation for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation, while the thoracoscopic mini maze procedure has the advantages of minimally invasiveness, repeatibility, and can achieve similar results as Cox-Maze Ⅳ procedure when combined with transcatheter radiofrequency ablation. Multidisciplinary therapy could be the best solution for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
ObjectiveTo study the clinical results of Mini Maze procedure in atrial fibrillation patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function.MethodsFrom June 2010 to December 2017, 86 atrial fibrillation patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function received Mini Maze procedure including 54 males and 32 females, with an average age of 60.7±5.9 years. Among them, 12 were with paroxysmal, 27 were with persistent and 47 were with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. The mean atrial fibrillation duration was 6.5±4.8 years. CHA2DS2-VASc score was 2.2±1.1. The mean diameter of left atrium was 46.9±3.8 mm. The mean diameter of left ventricle was 51.7±4.6 mm. The preoperative ejection fraction was 42.2%±4.7%. All patients received Mini Maze procedure after general anesthesia. The ablation included 3 annular ablations and 3 linear ablations. The left atrial appendage was excised by Endo-Gia. Ablation of Marshall ligament and epicardial autonomic ganglions were made by an ablation pen.ResultsEighty-six patients successfully completed the procedure without transition to thoracotomy. There was no death during the perioperative period. Seventy-seven patients (89.5%) maintained sinus rhythm at discharge. Eighty patients were followed up for 27.2±12.1 months and 72 patients maintained sinus rhythm. The overall postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was 47.1%±6.2%. The ejection fraction of the postoperative sinus rhythm group was 48.2%±5.8%, and the ejection fraction of the non-sinus group was 41.6%±5.8% (P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed a left atrial diameter (HR=1.485, 95%CI 1.157-1.906, P<0.05) and an increase in ejection fraction over 10% (HR=18.800, 95%CI 1.674-189.289, P<0.05) were closely related to postoperative recurrence. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation was significantly lower in patients with an increase in postoperative ejection fraction over 10% (P<0.05).ConclusionMini Maze procedure is safe and effective in the treatment of atrial fibrillation patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, which helps to improve left ventricular function to prevent the vicious circle of atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
Objective To investigate the value of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating the short term therapeutic response to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods One hundred and ten lesions were studied in 96 patients. Each patient underwent CEUS within a week before RFA, the number, size, border, inner echo and perfusion pattern of lesions were observed. One month after ultrasound-guided RFA, color Doppler flow imaging, CEUS and contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT, reference standard) were performed to assess the therapeutic response. Results Before RFA, in 96 cases with 110 lesions, 83 lesions showed homogeneous hyper-enhancement and the other 27 heterogeneous hyper-enhancement in arterial phase, and 98 lesions were hypo-enhanced in portal venous phase and late phase and the other 12 iso-enhanced. One month after RFA, 99 of 110 lesions were found no-enhancement in entire CEUS procedure, while 11 lesions showed local enhancement on the edge of lesion. Ninety-six of 110 lesions showed no-enhancement and other 14 with irregular enhancement by CECT. There was no statistical significance between CEUS and CECT (χ2=0.406, Pgt;0.05). Fourteen lesions as tumor residual by CECT were underwent RFA again, and then 1 month after RFA no-enhancement was showed by both CECT and CEUS. Conclusion CEUS can play a role in assessing the short term therapeutic response to RFA of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pulsed field ablation (PFA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Methods Computer searches were conducted on PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, The Web of Science, China Biomedical Literature Database, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases, with a search period from the establishment of each database until April 2025. Two researchers conducted literature screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation of the included studies based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Standardized electronic forms were used for data extraction, with a focus on the balanced dataset after propensity score matching (PSM). Quality evaluation was conducted using the improved Newcastle Ottawa scale (NOS). Meta analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 18.0 software, and subgroup analysis was performed based on the study type (whether PSM method was used or not). ResultsFinally, 14 studies were ultimately included, of which 6 studies applied the PSM method, with a total sample size of 3 172 cases (PFA group: 1 582 cases; RFA group: 1 590 cases. NOS score≥5 points. The meta-analysis results showed that the PFA group had a lower recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation [OR=0.75, 95%CI (0.63, 0.90), P=0.002], surgical complications [OR=0.63, 95%CI (0.41, 0.98), P=0.04], and surgical time [WMD=–37.32, 95%CI (–45.85, –28.78), P<0.001] compared to the RFA group, and the differences were statistically significant. In addition, compared to the PFA group, the RFA group had a shorter X-ray exposure time [WMD=7.65, 95%CI (4.41, 10.88), P<0.001], and the difference was statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of re ablation rate [OR=1.17, 95%CI (0.59, 2.31), P=0.65] and acute surgical success rate [OR=0.86, 95%CI (0.22, 3.35), P=0.82]. ConclusionCompared with RFA, PFA treatment for atrial fibrillation can reduce the recurrence rate, shorten the surgical time, and reduce surgical complications, indicating its good effectiveness and safety in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.