Controlled study of inline radiofrequency coagulation-assisted partial nephrectomy in sheep

Background. Primary or secondary tumors of kidney often are managed by partial nephrectomy. Intraoperative blood loss can be significant. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy may be even more challenging. We developed the Inline radiofrequency coagulation (ILRFA) probe for liver surgery. It uses radiofrequency energy to make a linear coagulative plane and considerably reduces bleeding during parenchymal transection. In this study we tested the efficiency of ILRFA in ovine kidney