Radiofrequency ablation of the spleen in patients with thalassemia intermedia: a pilot study.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation on the hematologic parameters in patients with thalassemia intermedia (TI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiofrequency ablation of the spleen was performed in 15 children with TI under general anesthesia using a cool-tip radiofrequency probe. These patients were regarded as the radiofrequency ablation group. Nine patients with TI who underwent partial splenectomy during the past 3 years and another 14 patients with TI who underwent total splenectomy were also enrolled in this study as the first and second control groups (CG1 and CG2). RESULTS: In the radiofrequency ablation group, two (13%) patients showed a significant increase in the mean hemoglobin level compared with the year before (1.5 and 1.8 g/dL). In addition, three (20%) other patients became transfusion-free in the year after radiofrequency ablation. In CG1, one (11%) patient showed a significant increase in hemoglobin the year after partial splenectomy, and another two (22%) patients became transfusion-free. In CG2, six (43%) patients revealed a significant increase in hemoglobin in the year after total splenectomy, and another four (29%) revealed a significant decrease in the need for transfusions. The mean increase in hemoglobin and platelet count was more significant in CG2 than in the radiofrequency ablation group and CG1. The mean hospital stay was significantly shorter in the radiofrequency ablation group (1.7 days vs 7.5 and 8.2 days in CG1 and CG2, respectively). CONCLUSION: We believe that radiofrequency ablation of the spleen can be a safe procedure in patients with TI and is at least as effective as partial splenectomy, having only minor self-limiting complications.

Author information

Author/s: Rasekhi, A R (AR); Naderifar, M (M); Bagheri, M H (MH); Shahriari, M (M); Foroutan, H (H); Karimi, M (M); Nabavizadeh, S A (SA);

Affiliation: Department of Radiology, Imaging Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazee Sq., Shiraz, Fars, Iran.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: AJR. American journal of roentgenology (AJR Am J Roentgenol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-May; vol 192 (issue 5) : pp 1425-9

Dates: Created 2009/04/21; Completed 2009/05/21;

PMID: 19380572, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 5/21/2009, IMS Date: )

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