Purpose of Review

This review will describe the various applications, benefits, risks, and approaches of conventional irreversible electroporation (IRE), as well as highlight the new technological developments of this procedure along with their clinical applications.

Recent Findings

Minimally invasive image-guided percutaneous IRE ablation has emerged as a newer, non-thermal ablation technique for tumors in the solid organs, particularly within the liver, pancreas, kidney, and prostate. IRE allows for ablation near heat-sensitive structures, including major blood vessels and nerves, and is not susceptible to the heat sink effect. However, it is limited by certain requirements, such as the need for precise parallel placement of at least two probes with a maximum inter-probe distance of 2.5 cm to reduce the risk of arching phenomenon, the requirement for general anesthesia with muscle relaxant, and the need for cardiac synchronization. However, new technological advancements in the ablation system and image guidance tools have been introduced to improve the efficiency and efficacy of IRE.

Summary

IRE is a safe and effective treatment option for solid tumor ablation within the liver, pancreas, kidney, and prostate. Compared with other ablation techniques, IRE has several advantages, such as the absence of heat sink effect and minimal injury to blood vessels and bile ducts while activating the immune system. Novel techniques such as H-FIRE, needle placement systems, and robotics have enhanced the accuracy and performance in placement of IRE probes. IRE can be especially beneficial when combined with chemotherapy, immunomodulation, and immunotherapy.