Computed Tomography (CT)-Guided Medical Sodium Hyaluronate Gel for Paravascular Microwave Ablation of Rabbit Liver Large Vessels

Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of medical sodium hyaluronate gel on large blood vessels during microwave ablation (MWA) of rabbit hepatic paravalves. Methods Forty-eight New Zealand large white rabbits were selected and randomly divided into a sodium hyaluronate gel MWA immediate group (group A, n = 12), sodium hyaluronate gel MWA one-week postoperative group (group B, n = 12), conventional MWA immediate group (group C, n = 12), and conventional MWA one-week postoperative group (group D, n = 12). Groups A and B were both injected with 1 mL of sodium hyaluronate gel and then underwent MWA, and groups C and D underwent direct MWA. Histopathological examinations were performed to observe the damage of large vessels within the ablation area in every group. Results The difference in the degree of damage to large vessels after MWA in the four groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The rates of vascular injury after MWA in groups A–D were 0.00%, 58.3%, 100.0%, and 100.0%, respectively . During MWA and postoperative follow-up in the four groups, one rabbit in group D died, while another developed fatty liver, cirrhosis, and ascites in group B. The maximum diameters of the ablation zones in groups B and D were 2.86±0.48 cm and 2.58±0.50 cm, respectively, one week after surgery and 2.87±0.49cm and 2.58±0.50 cm, respectively, immediately after surgery, exhibiting statistically significant differences (P<0.001). Conclusion Medical sodium hyaluronate gel has a protective effect on large vessels during hepatic paravascular MWA.