Electroporation of the Liver

Electroporation is an advanced medical technology used for the targeted treatment of liver tumors and is considered one of the most innovative methods in interventional radiology. The procedure is based on the use of very rapid high voltage electrical pulses directed specifically at the affected tissue. The main goal of the procedure is to destroy tumor cells without using heat or extreme cold which allows for the treatment of tumors located in particularly complex anatomical positions. When a tumor is in close proximity to major blood vessels or bile ducts conventional thermal ablation methods may cause irreversible damage to these structures but electroporation operates through a different mechanism that preserves the supporting tissues.
​​

The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia in a CT room or an angiography suite. The interventional radiologist inserts thin long needles that function as electrodes through the skin using real time imaging to achieve maximum precision. Once the electrodes are positioned around the tumor the device delivers electrical pulses. These currents create microscopic holes in the tumor cell membrane. As a result of the disruption of the cell balance the cell undergoes a natural biological death process called apoptosis. After the treatment the body immune system recognizes the dead cells and gradually clears them while the surrounding healthy tissue remains without significant scarring.
 

The treatment is particularly suitable for patients suffering from liver metastases or primary liver tumors that cannot be removed in open surgery due to their size or location. Furthermore it serves as an excellent solution for those who are not candidates for thermal ablation because of the proximity to large blood vessels which cool the area and prevent the success of heat based treatment. The hospitalization period after the procedure is usually very short and most patients return to routine activity within a few days. Follow up after the procedure includes periodic imaging tests to ensure that the tumor has been fully destroyed and to monitor the healing process of the liver tissue. Electroporation enables a therapeutic approach in areas that were previously considered unreachable thereby expanding treatment options for many patients.