Successfully seal pancreatic end after thermal distal pancreatectomy using needle arrays in alternating electromagnetic fields

Background. Pancreatic fistula is still the major postoperative morbidity after distal pancreatectomy (DP). An inductive heat technology via needle arrays in a system of alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) was designed to seal off the pancreatic end. Methods. Twenty Lanyu pigs were divided into 2 groups for DP: the conventional group had hand-sewn closure of the pancreatic end (n = 10), and the AMF group received thermal DP by AMF (n = 10). Pathological examinations of the resected and remnant pancreas were studied immediately after resection and on the 14th postoperative day (POD), respectively. The severity and the incidence of pancreatic abscess were compared. Results. The incidence and severity of pancreatic abscess were significantly decreased in the AMF group than those in the conventional group (P =.009). In the immediate postoperative period, microscopic examination of the pancreatic resected end showed prominent coagulative necrosis, loss of NADPH-diaphorase activity, and significant apoptosis at the resected pancreas in the AMF group compared with the control group. Fourteen days after AMF ablation, the pancreatic stump end was covered with thick fibrosis, and histological study of the remnant pancreas showed that the parenchyma had well recovered with positive NADPH-diaphorase activity, and the pancreatic duct was sealed off successfully by prominent periductal fibrosis and intraductal plug. The body weight gain on the 14th POD was significantly increased in the AMF group (from 23.8 ± 1.8 kg to 25.4 ± 5.5 kg) compared with the conventional group (from 25.3 ± 2.1 to 25.4 ± 6.0 kg; P =.003). Conclusions. Inductive heats by the AMF system via needle array can be performed easily and can seal the pancreatic cut surface well during DP.