Bloodless liver resection using needle arrays under alternating electromagnetic fields

Background/Aim: Hemostasis is a major difficulty associated with hepatectomies. The authors designed a new thermal surgery system to reduce blood loss. Methods: The newly designed system consists of an alternating magnetic field generator and stainless steel needle arrays with thermosensitive bands. Lanyu pigs were used: 4 for the Kelly crushing method and 4 for the newly designed method. The procedures used were S4-S5 segmentectomies or left lateral segmentectomies, after which the amount of blood loss and operation times were compared. The pigs were observed for 4 weeks, after which liver pathologies were studied. Results: The blood loss in the method proposed by the authors was almost 0 mL, whereas with the Kelly crushing method it was 116 ± 35 mL. The method proposed in this study can save 15 to 25 minutes of operation time. The resected liver margins exhibited prominent apoptosis and fibrotic change in the remnant livers. Conclusions: The method proposed is a novel new way of performing thermal surgery.