Abstract
Efforts to improve mortality associated with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC)
have shown minimal gains despite advances in surgical technique, systemic treatments,
and radiation therapy. Locoregional therapy with ablation has not been routinely adopted
due to the high risk of complications associated with thermal destruction of the pancreas.
Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an emerging, nonthermal, ablative technology
that has demonstrated the ability to generate controlled ablation of LAPC while preserving
pancreatic parenchymal integrity. IRE may be performed percutaneously or via laparotomy
and will commonly involve multidisciplinary treatment teams. This article will describe
the technical aspects of how multidisciplinary IRE is performed during laparotomy
at a single tertiary care institution.
Keywords
irreversible electroporation - ablation - locally advanced pancreatic cancer - pancreas
- interventional radiology
