Vacuum-assisted laser ablation induces pulmonary cavity formation: insights from a rabbit model.
- 1Hebei General Hospital, No. 348 Heping West Road, Xinhua District, Shijiazhuang City, 050051, Hebei Province, P. R. China. [email protected].
- 2Hebei General Hospital, No. 348 Heping West Road, Xinhua District, Shijiazhuang City, 050051, Hebei Province, P. R. China.
Abstract
Background
Pulmonary nodules are common findings in low‑dose CT screening, and thermal ablation is a minimally invasive treatment option. However, incomplete ablation and tissue fragment dispersion remain challenges.Methods
In this rabbit model study, laser ablation and microwave ablation were performed at three energy settings (600 J, 1,200 J, and 1,800 J) under CT guidance. An innovative three‑way vacuum adapter was integrated with the puncture needle to apply negative pressure suction during ablation. Gross pathology, lesion dimensions, cavity formation, and histological features of aspirated tissue were assessed.Results
Laser ablation consistently produced larger lesion site rhombus areas than microwave ablation at equivalent energy levels (e.g., 87.2 mm² vs. 53.1 mm² at 600 J; 179.2 mm² vs. 104.6 mm² at 1,800 J). Cavity formation occurred exclusively in laser groups, while none was observed in microwave groups. Aspirated tissue fragments collected during laser ablation contained alveolar epithelial cells and lymphocytes, confirming effective vacuum‑assisted extraction. Histology revealed concentric pathological zones with increasing energy.Discussion
The findings highlight the distinct advantages of vacuum‑assisted laser ablation over microwave ablation in pulmonary nodule treatment. Laser ablation with vacuum assistance not only produced larger lesion areas but also uniquely induced consistent cavity formation, which may serve as a marker of complete tumor eradication in various organ systems. Further experiment on larger animal models are warranted.Conclusions
Laser ablation combined with vacuum assistance achieved more efficient ablation, larger lesions, and consistent cavity formation compared to microwave ablation. This approach may enhance tumor eradication and warrants further investigation for application to other organ sites.
Related
- Durability and reconnection patterns at time of repeat ablation after first-time pulmonary vein isolation by monopolar focal pulsed field ablation
- Pulmonary Vein Anatomy, Cooling Kinetics, and Recurrence After Cryoballoon Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
- Three-dimensional anatomical reconstruction as a guideline-anchored framework for choosing between lung-sparing resection and image-guided ablation in deep subsolid pulmonary nodules: a thoracic surgeon’s perspective
- Pulmonary Vein Isolation with Different Single-Shot Ablation Devices in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective Observational Single-Center Clinical Evaluation
- Pressure-Waveform Guidance for Pulmonary Vein Occlusion During Cryoballoon Ablation: Procedural Efficiency and Repeat-Procedure Findings from a Large Single-Center Cohort
BibTeX
@article{liu2026vacuumassisted,
title = {{Vacuum-assisted laser ablation induces pulmonary cavity formation: insights from a rabbit model.}},
author = {Lijun Liu and Xiaoning Li and Hang Yu and Jianxun Wang},
journal = {Journal of cardiothoracic surgery},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s13019-026-04377-2},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958398},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Vacuum-assisted laser ablation induces pulmonary cavity formation: insights from a rabbit model.
AU - Lijun Liu
AU - Xiaoning Li
AU - Hang Yu
AU - Jianxun Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/31
JO - Journal of cardiothoracic surgery
DO - 10.1186/s13019-026-04377-2
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958398
AB - Background Pulmonary nodules are common findings in low‑dose CT screening, and thermal ablation is a minimally invasive treatment option. However, incomplete ablation and tissue fragment dispersion remain challenges.Methods In this rabbit model study, laser ablation and microwave ablation were performed at three energy settings (600 J, 1,200 J, and 1,800 J) under CT guidance. An innovative three‑way vacuum adapter was integrated with the puncture needle to apply negative pressure suction during ablation. Gross pathology, lesion dimensions, cavity formation, and histological features of aspirated tissue were assessed.Results Laser ablation consistently produced larger lesion site rhombus areas than microwave ablation at equivalent energy levels (e.g., 87.2 mm² vs. 53.1 mm² at 600 J; 179.2 mm² vs. 104.6 mm² at 1,800 J). Cavity formation occurred exclusively in laser groups, while none was observed in microwave groups. Aspirated tissue fragments collected during laser ablation contained alveolar epithelial cells and lymphocytes, confirming effective vacuum‑assisted extraction. Histology revealed concentric pathological zones with increasing energy.Discussion The findings highlight the distinct advantages of vacuum‑assisted laser ablation over microwave ablation in pulmonary nodule treatment. Laser ablation with vacuum assistance not only produced larger lesion areas but also uniquely induced consistent cavity formation, which may serve as a marker of complete tumor eradication in various organ systems. Further experiment on larger animal models are warranted.Conclusions Laser ablation combined with vacuum assistance achieved more efficient ablation, larger lesions, and consistent cavity formation compared to microwave ablation. This approach may enhance tumor eradication and warrants further investigation for application to other organ sites.
SN - 1749-8090
ER -