High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging non-invasive thermal ablative modality that can be utilised for the treatment of solid organ tumours, including liver cancer. Acoustic cavitation is a phenomenon that can occur during HIFU and its presence can enhance heating rates. One major limitation of thermal ablative techniques in general, such as radiofrequency and microwave ablation, is the heat sink effect imparted by large vasculature. Thermal advection from blood flow in vessels ≥ 3 - 4 mm in diameter has been shown to significantly reduce heating rates and peak temperatures in the target tissue, potentially leading to treatment failure. With regards to HIFU therapy, a clearer understanding is required of the effects of blood flow on heating, cavitation and thermal tissue necrosis, which is the treatment endpoint in clinical thermal ablation. Therefore, the overall aim of this thesis project was to elucidate the effects of blood flow on HIFU-induced heating, cavitation and histological assessment of thermal ablation. A unique isolated, perfused porcine liver model was used in order to provide a relevant test bed, with physiological and anatomical characteristics similar to the in vivo human liver. The normothermic liver perfusion device used in all studies presented in this work can keep an organ alive in a functional state ex vivo for in excess of 72 hours. A further advantage of the liver perfusion device was that it allowed blood flow to be stopped completely and resumed rapidly, allowing studies to be conducted under zero flow conditions. A therapeutic HIFU system was used in order to deliver HIFU therapy to regions of hepatic parenchyma adjacent (≤ 3 mm) to large (≥ 5 mm) blood vessels or away from vasculature (≥ 1 cm) at either 1.06 MHz or at 3.18 MHz. Cavitation events during HIFU therapy were spatio-temporally monitored using a previously developed passive acoustic mapping (PAM) technique. The cavitation threshold at each frequency was determined through assessment of acoustic emissions acquired through PAM during HIFU exposure at a range of acoustic pressures. Real time thermal data during HIFU therapy were obtained using an implantable 400 μm thermocouple, aligned with the HIFU focus, in order to assess the effect of large vessel blood flow on peak tissue temperatures. Thermal data were obtained at 1.06 MHz, in the presence of acoustic cavitation and at 3.18 MHz, in the absence of cavitation, both in the presence and complete absence of blood flow. Finally, histological assessment of cell viability and cell death was performed in order to determine whether any heat sink effect could be overcome, with the achievement of complete tissue necrosis in treatment regions directly adjacent to large vasculature. This work demonstrated for the first time that in perfused, functional liver tissue, the presence of large vasculature and physiological blood flow does not significantly affect ablative HIFU therapy, both in terms of peak focal tissue temperatures attained and histological evidence of complete tissue necrosis. Therefore, HIFU may be superior to other ablative modalities in treating tumours in tissue regions adjacent to major vascular structures, but further work needs to be performed to correlate the experimental findings with clinical outcomes.

Os resultados sobre o tempo adequado da exclusão vascular total do fígado(EVTF) para a realização de hepatectomias continuam sendo discutidos. Dados favoráveis têm sido descritos, quando se associa a EVTF com a perfusão de solução hipotérmica, porém a comparação entre estas técnicas ainda não foi descrita. Este estudo tem como objetivo comparar os resultados da ressecção hepática com EVTF, realizada sob hipotermia(solução de preservação hipotérmica in situ), com aqueles obtidos quando se realiza esta ressecção com EVTF com tempo de isquemia menor que 60 minutos, e naqueles com tempo de isquemia maior ou igual a 60 minutos. Para tanto, foram analisados, como parâmetros, a função renal e hepática, morbidade, e mortalidade pós-operatórias nos três grupos mencionados,buscando-se determinar valores preditivos para indicação das técnicas. PACIENTES E MÉTODO. Foram estudados 81 pacientes submetidos à ressecção hepática. Estes pacientes foram divididos em três grupos. Trinta e quatro pacientes com EVTF menor do que 60 minutos (EVTF < 60’), 19 pacientes com EVTF maior ou igual a 60 minutos (EVTF &#8805; 60’), e 28 pacientes nos quais a perfusão hipotérmica in situ (EVTFHIPOT) foi realizada. Os valores das transaminases hepáticas (ASAT e ALAT), Bilirrubinas totais, creatinina, e tempo de protrombina foram registrados. Também foram verificados os índices de morbidade e de mortalidade pós-operatórias nos três grupos. RESULTADOS. O valor máximo no pós-operatório das enzimas hepáticas - ASAT e ALAT foram significativamente menores (p < 0.05) no grupo EVTFHIPOT (535 + 361 U/L e 436 + 427 U/L), quando comparados aos outros grupos - EVTF<60’(988 + 798 U/L; 844 + 733 U/L), EVTF>60’ (1583 + 984 U/L; 1082 + 842 U/L). No grupo EVTFHIPOT, os valores máximos das bilirrubinas (6,5 + 2,5 mg/dl),creatinina (1,2 + 0,7 mg/dl), e o número de complicações por paciente (1,2 + 1) foram semelhantes aos do grupo EVTF<60’’ (5,5 + 7,8; 1,3 + 1; e 0,7 + 1 respectivamente), e significativamente menores que os do grupo EVTF > 60’(12,8 + 11,8; 2,3 + 2,3, e 2,3 + 1,2). A mortalidade hospitalar foi de 1/34, 2/19 e 2/28 nos grupos EVTF < 60’, EVTF > 60’, e EVTFHIPOT, respectivamente,sem diferença estatística. CONCLUSÕES. Quando comparadas as técnicas clássicas de exclusão vascular do fígado,de qualquer duração, com aquela na qual se realizou a perfusão hipotérmica do fígado, conclui-se que, nesta última, os pacientes toleraram melhor a isquemia. Deve-se enfatizar que, na EVTF com hipotermia, existe melhor preservação da função hepática, melhor preservação da função renal, e menores índices de morbidade, quando comparada com a EVTF>60’’ sem hipotermia. Os fatores preditivos de EVTF por mais de 60 minutos auxiliam na adoção da opção pelo resfriamento hepático. / OBJECTIVE. To compare the results of liver resection performed under in situ hypothermic perfusion vs standard total vascular exclusion (TVE) of the liver < 60 minutes and &#8805; 60 minutes in terms of liver tolerance, liver and renal functions, postoperative morbidity and mortality. SUMMARY BACGROUND DATA. The safe duration of TVE is still debated. Promising results have been reported following TVE associated with hypothermic perfusion of the liver with durations of up to several hours. The two techniques have not been compared so far. PATIENTS AND METHODS.The study population includes 81 consecutive liver resections under TVE < 60 minutes (group TVE < 60’ , 34 patients), &#8805; 60 minutes (group TVE &#8805; 60’, 19 patients) and in situ hypothermic perfusion (group TVEHYPOTH , 28 patients). Liver tolerance (peaks of transaminases), liver and kidney function (peak of bilirubin, minimum prothrombin time and peak of creatinine), morbidity and inhospital mortality were compared within the 3 groups. RESULTS. The postoperative peaks of ASAT and ALAT were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in group TVE HYPOTH (535 + 361 U/L and 436 + 427 U/L) compared to the groups TVE<60’ (988 + 798 U/L; 844 + 733 U/L) and TVE&#8805;60’ (1583 + 984 U/L; 1082 + 842 U/L). In the group TVE HYPOTH , the peaks of bilirubin (6,5 + 2,5 mg/dl), creatinine (1,2 + 0,7 mg/dl), and the number of complications per patient (1,2 + 1) were comparable to those of the group TVE<60’ (5,5 + 7,8; 1,3 + 1; e 0,7 + 1 respectively) and significantly lower to those of the group TVE&#8805;60’ (12,8 + 11,8; 2,3 + 2,3, e 2,3 + 1,2). In hospital mortality rates were 1/34, 2/19 and 2/28 for the groups TVE < 60’ , TVE &#8805; 60’ , and TVEHYPOTH respectively and were comparable. On multivariate analysis, the size of the tumor, portal vein embolization and a planned vascular reconstruction werem significantly predictive of TVE &#8805; 60 minutes. CONCLUSIONS. Compared to standard TVE of any duration, hypothermic perfusion of the liver is associated with a better tolerance to ischemia. In addition, compared to TVE &#8805; 60 minutes, it is associated with better postoperative liver and renal functions, and a lower morbidity. Predictive factors for TVE &#8805; 60 minutes may help to indicate hypothermic perfusion of the liver.

INTRODUÇÃO: As técnicas de preservação pulmonar visam a melhorar a qualidade do enxerto e aumentar sua tolerância ao período de isquemia fria. A técnica mais usada atualmente consiste na perfusão da artéria pulmonar com Perfadex. O alto custo associado à importação dessa solução e as dificuldades logísticas dos portos e aeroportos brasileiros com relação a materiais médicohospitalares têm causado problemas para os centros de transplante pulmonar brasileiros. Daí a necessidade de uma solução de preservação pulmonar produzida no Brasil. O objetivo desse estudo é comparar a solução Perfadex com a solução de fabricação nacional LPD-G, quanto ao grau de lesão de isquemia-reperfusão, em um modelo de perfusão pulmonar ex vivo (PPEV). MÉTODOS: Foram usados doadores em morte cerebral, cujos pulmões foram recusados. Cada caso era incluído aleatoriamente em um dos grupos: Grupo 1, a preservação pulmonar era realizada com Perfadex, e Grupo 2, era usado o LPD-G, solução fabricada no Brasil com composição idêntica a do Perfadex. Após a captação, os pulmões eram armazenados a 4 °C por 10 horas. A reperfusão ocorria em um sistema de PPEV, no qual o bloco pulmonar era ventilado e perfundido por uma solução acelular a 37 °C por 60 minutos. A lesão de isquemia-reperfusão era medida através de parâmetros funcionais (gasometria, resistência vascular pulmonar, complacência pulmonar, relação peso úmido/peso seco) e histológicos. Foram feitas biópsias pulmonares em 3 tempos: antes da captação, após o período de isquemia fria e depois da reperfusão. Vários critérios foram usados (edema alveolar, edema intersticial, hemorragia etc.) para criar um Escore de Lesão Pulmonar (ELP). A contagem de células apoptóticas foi feita usando a metodologia TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling). RESULTADOS: Após a reperfusão, a capacidade de oxigenação média foi de 405,3 mmHg no Grupo 1 e 406,0 mmHg no Grupo 2 (p = 0,98). A mediana da resistência vascular pulmonar nos pulmões do Grupo 1 foi de 697,6 dina.s.cm-5, enquanto no Grupo 2, esse valor foi de 378,3 dina.s.cm-5 (p = 0,035). A complacência pulmonar média ao final da reperfusão foi de 46,8 cmH2O no Grupo 1 e de 49,3 ml/cmH2O no Grupo 2 (p = 0,816). A razão entre o peso úmido e o peso seco foi em média 2,06 e 2,02 nos Grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente (p = 0,87). Na biópsia realizada após reperfusão, o ELP médio foi de 4,37 e 4,37 nos Grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente (p = 1,0); a contagem de células apoptóticas foi de 118,75/mm2 e 137,50/mm2 nos Grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente (p = 0,71). CONCLUSÕES: A qualidade da preservação pulmonar obtida com a solução LPD-G nacional é semelhante a obtida com o Perfadex. A aplicação clínica da nova solução pode reduzir custos, facilitando a manutenção e a abertura de centros de transplante pulmonar / INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary preservation techniques aim at improving graft quality and increasing tolerance during reperfusion and cold ischemia times. Currently, the most used technique consists of pulmonary artery anterograde perfusion with Perfadex. The high cost associated with the importation of this solution and the logistical difficulties of our ports and airports regarding medical supplies have caused problems for lung transplant centers in Brazil. Therefore there is need for a preservation solution manufactured in Brazil. The aim of this study is to compare the pulmonary preservation solutions Perfadex and LPD-G manufactured in Brazil in an ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) model. METHODS: Donors with brain death, whose lungs had been declined by transplantation teams were used. Cases were randomized into two groups: in Group 1, Perfadex was used for pulmonary preservation. In Group 2, LPDnac, a solution manufactured in Brazil and whose compositon is identical to Perfadex, was used. After harvesting, lungs were stored at 4 °C for 10 hours. An EVLP system was used and the pulmonary block was ventilated and perfused by an acellular solution at 37 °C for 60 minutes. Ischemic-reperfusion injury was measured by functional (blood gas, pulmonary vascular resistance, lung compliance, wet/dry weight ratio) and histological parameters. Pulmonary biopsies were performed at three time points: before harvesting, 10 hours after cold ischemia and 60 minutes after reperfusion. Samples were prepared for light microscopy analysis. Several criteria were used (alveolar edema, interstitial edema, hemorrhage etc.) to create a lung injury score (LIS). Apoptotic cell count was carried out using the TUNEL methodology (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling). RESULTS: After reperfusion, mean oxygenation capacity was 406.0 mmHg in Group 2 and 405.3 mmHg in Group 1 (p = 0.98). Mean pulmonary vascular resistance in Group 2 lungs was 378.3 dina.s.cm-5, whereas in Group 1 it was 697.6 dina.s.cm-5 (p = 0.035). Mean pulmonary compliance by the end of reperfusion was 49.3 ml/cmH2O in Group 2 and 46.8 cmH2O in Group 1 (p = 0.816). Mean wet/dry weight ratio was 2.02 and 2.06 in Groups 2 and 1, respectively (p = 0.87). Mean LIS for the biopsy performed after reperfusion was 4.37 and 4.37 in Groups 2 and 1, respectively (p= 1.0); apoptotic cell count was 137.50/mm2 and 118.75/mm2 in Groups 2 and 1, respectively (p = 0.71). CONCLUSION: The preservation solution manufactured in Brazil proved to be as good as Perfadex. The clinical application for the new solution may reduce costs, favoring the maintenance and opening of pulmonary transplantation centers

Design and analysis of conceptually different cooling systems for the human heart preservation are numerically investigated. A heart cooling container with required connections was designed for a normal size human heart. A three-dimensional, high resolution human heart geometric model obtained from CT-angio data was used for simulations. Nine different cooling designs are introduced in this research. The first cooling design (Case 1) used a cooling gelatin only outside of the heart. In the second cooling design (Case 2), the internal parts of the heart were cooled via pumping a cooling liquid inside both the heart’s pulmonary and systemic circulation systems. An unsteady conjugate heat transfer analysis is performed to simulate the temperature field variations within the heart during the cooling process. Case 3 simulated the currently used cooling method in which the coolant is stagnant. Case 4 was a combination of Case 1 and Case 2. A linear thermoelasticity analysis was performed to assess the stresses applied on the heart during the cooling process. In Cases 5 through 9, the coolant solution was used for both internal and external cooling. For external circulation in Case 5 and Case 6, two inlets and two outlets were designed on the walls of the cooling container. Case 5 used laminar flows for coolant circulations inside and outside of the heart. Effects of turbulent flow on cooling of the heart were studied in Case 6. In Case 7, an additional inlet was designed on the cooling container wall to create a jet impinging the hot region of the heart’s wall. Unsteady periodic inlet velocities were applied in Case 8 and Case 9. The average temperature of the heart in Case 5 was +5.0oC after 1500 s of cooling. Multi-objective constrained optimization was performed for Case 5. Inlet velocities for two internal and one external coolant circulations were the three design variables for optimization. Minimizing the average temperature of the heart, wall shear stress and total volumetric flow rates were the three objectives. The only constraint was to keep von Mises stress below the ultimate tensile stress of the heart’s tissue.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 wilsonjoseduca_tese.pdf: 1506382 bytes, checksum: 16d07e2101b80e16a2d850b2111fb461 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-06-10 / liver transplantation (OLT) is today the gold standard for the treatment of the end-stage liver disease. The preservation of graft is the cornerstone for the OLT with cadaveric donor. In this context, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of different solutions used for it. Our objective was to compare the results of OLT, carried out with cadaveric donor, preserved with the solutions of preservation ViaSpan® or Celsior®. Casuistic and Method: we evaluated retrospectively 72 recipients of the OLT. Of these, 36 had their graft preserved with ViaSpanâ solution (Group A) and 36 with Celsiorâ solution (Group B) as follows: the donor was perfused in situ of 1000 ml in the portal vein of ViaSpanâ or Celsiorâ and 3000 ml of Euro-Collins in aortic artery; in the table managed ViaSpanâ or Celsiorâ 500 ml in the portal vein, 250 ml in hepatic artery and 250 ml in the biliary duct. The following variables in groups A and B were evaluated: cost of the solutions, characteristics of the donors, characteristics of the recipients, intraoperative details, reperfusion injury and esteatose of graft with biopsy carried out after the reperfusion. As results of the OLT were evaluated: grafts with primary nonfunction (PNF), initial poor function (IPF), rejection, complications of the biliary duct, complications of the hepatic artery, retransplantation, follow up of the receiver in the first year after the OLT. Results: bigger warm ischemia and duration of surgery in group A (p= 0,002 and 0.001 respectively). The cost of the Celsior solution was lower (less than U$ 266.00 per litre). The remaining: characteristics of the donors, characteristics of the recipients, reperfusion injury, steatosis, PNF, PDF, rejection, retransplantation and recipients survival had not shown significant difference in statistics. Stenosis of the biliary duct was 3 cases (8.3%) in group A and 8 (22.2%) in group B (p= 0.19) and thrombosis of the hepatic artery were 4 cases (11.1%) in group B and none in group A (p= 0.11). Conclusion: the result of OLT, performed with cadaveric donor, preserved with ViaSpanâ or Celsiorâ solutions was similar. However we observe a trend of bigger number of stenosis of the biliary duct and thrombosis of the hepatic artery in the recipients of agencies preserved with the Celsiorâ solution. Thus, we believe that more research is necessary to clarify this relation. / O transplante de fígado (TxF) é hoje o padrão ouro para o tratamento da doença hepática terminal. A preservação do enxerto é a pedra fundamental para o TxF com doador cadáver. Nesse contexto, é importante avaliar a eficácia das diferentes soluções de preservação. Nosso objetivo foi comparar os resultados de TxF, realizados com órgãos de doadores cadáver, preservados com as soluções de preservação ViaSpan® ou Celsior®. Casuística e Método: Avaliamos retrospectivamente 72 pacientes submetidos a TxF. Desses, 36 tiveram seus enxertos preservados com a solução ViaSpan&#61666; (Grupo A) e 36 com Celsior&#61666; (Grupo B) da seguinte forma: perfusão in situ de 1000 ml na veia porta de ViaSpan&#61666; ou Celsior&#61666; e 3000 ml de Euro-Collins na aorta; e na mesa administrou-se 500 ml de ViaSpan&#61666; ou Celsior&#61666; na veia porta, 250 ml na artéria hepática e 250 ml na via biliar. Avaliamos as seguintes variáveis nos grupos A e B: custo das soluções, dados dos doadores, dados dos receptores, dados do intra-operatório, lesão de preservação e esteatose do enxerto com biópsia realizada após a reperfusão. Como resultado do TxF avaliamos: falência primária (FPE) e disfunção primária do enxerto (DPE), rejeição, complicações da via biliar, complicações da artéria hepática, retransplante, sobrevida do receptor no primeiro ano de pós-transplante. Resultados: O tempo de isquemia quente e tempo cirúrgico maiores no grupo A (p= 0,002 e 0,001 respectivamente). O custo da solução Celsior&#61666; foi menor (R$ 400,00 a menos por litro). O restante dos dados dos doadores, dados dos receptores, lesão de preservação e esteatose do enxerto com biópsia realizada após a reperfusão, FPE e DPE, retransplante, sobrevida do receptor não mostraram diferença estatística. A estenose da via biliar foi de 3 (8,3%) casos no grupo A e 8 (22,2%) no grupo B (p= 0,19) e a trombose da artéria hepática foi 4 (11,1%) casos no grupo B e ausente no grupo A (p= 0,11). Conclusão: O resultado de TxF, realizado com doador cadáver, preservado com as soluções ViaSpan® ou Celsior® foi similar. Contudo observamos um maior número de estenose de via biliar e trombose arterial nos receptores de órgãos preservados com a solução Celsior&#61666;. Assim, acreditamos que sejam necessários novos trabalhos para esclarecer esta relação.

Es wurde untersucht ob die normotherme extrakorporale Leberperfusion (NELP) als Methode geeignet ist, Lebern vor Transplantation zu konservieren, und ob sie warm ischämische Zellschäden beheben kann. Zum ersten Mal konnte experimentell gezeigt werden, daß eine erfolgreiche Transplantation nach 4 Stunden mit NELP möglich ist und sogar so zuverlässig, wie die Kaltkonservierung in der University of Wisconsin Lösung. Die NELP erhält die Leberfunktion und ermöglicht eine Regeneration warm ischämischer Schäden in Nicht-herzschlagenden Spendern. 36 Schweine der Deutschen Landrasse wurden in sechs Gruppen transplantiert. In der Gruppe 1 wurde direkt nach Organentnahme transplantiert, in Gruppe 2 nach 4 Stun-den Kaltkonservierung in der University of Wisconsin Lösung und in Gruppe 3 nach 4 Stunden NELP. In Gruppe 4 wurden die Lebern nach 60 Minuten warmer Ischämie direkt transplantiert, in Gruppe 5 nach 60 Minuten warmer Ischämie und 4 Stunden Kaltkonservierung und in Gruppe 6 nach 60 Minuten warmer Ischämie und 4 Stunden NELP. Alle Tiere deren Lebern vor Transplantation normotherm extrakorporal perfun-diert wurden (Gruppen 3 und 6) überlebten mit guter Organfunktion. Im Unterschied hierzu führte die Abfolge von 60 Minuten warmer Ischämie und 4 Stunden Kaltkonser-vierung unweigerlich zur primären Organ-Nichtfunktion innerhalb der ersten 24 Stun-den nach Lebertransplantation. Die Methode der NELP bietet die Chance eine Leber außerhalb des Körpers für Zeiträume von möglicherweise länger als 4 Stunden völlig funktionsfähig zu halten. Die NELP kann zur Organkonservierung vor Transplantation eingesetzt werden, aber auch dazu, Lebern von Nicht-Herzschlagenden Spendern zu nutzen. / Normothermic extracorporeal liver perfusion (NELP) was studied as a means to pre-serve livers for transplantation and to reverse warm ischemic injury. For the first time we provide experimental evidence that successful transplantation after 4h of normo-thermic extracorporeal liver perfusion is possible and as reliable as 4h of cold preser-vation in University of Wisconsin solution. NELP preserves liver function completely and is capable of reversing 60 min of warm ischemic injury in non heart beating do-nors. 36 German Landrace pigs were transplanted in six groups. Group 1 animals were transplanted directly, group 2 animals after 4h of cold preservation with University of Wisconsin solution and group 3 animals following 4h of normothermic extracorporeal liver perfusion. Group 4 animals sustained 1h of warm ischemia before transplantation of the liver. In group 5 animals were transplanted following 1h of warm ischemia and 4h of cold preservation, and in group 6 after 1h of warm ischemia and 4h of normo-thermic extracorporeal liver perfusion. All animals receiving livers treated by normo-thermic extracorporeal liver perfusion survived without liver failure (group 3 and 6). In contrast, all animals in group 5 developed primary graft non-function within 24 h after transplantation. The technique of NELP holds the potential to keep a mammalian liver outside the body completely functional, possibly for longer than 4h. NELP can be used for liver preservation prior to transplantation or to utilise organs from non-heart-beating donors.