Radio frequency ablation

Introduction

Radio frequency is a type of electrical energy used to create heat. Ablation is using heat to treat cancerous cells.

Radio frequency ablation is a type of treatment used to treat tumours. It requires placing a needle into your tumour and using electrical energy to treat the unwanted cells.

Benefits and risks

You will benefit from this procedure because it will help us to treat your tumour. Radio frequency ablation can be used more than once to treat tumours. It is also a treatment for people who cannot have surgery.

It is common to get a small bruise at the needle entry site. There is a very small risk that bleeding might occur internally. Very rarely other organs, such as the kidneys, lungs or bowel, might be punctured. Puncture of the gallbladder may cause bile to leak out into your abdomen causing an infection called peritonitis. It is also common to get flu-like symptoms for up to a week after the treatment.

There are also risks with the general anaesthetic, which the anaesthetist will discuss with you. We will discuss the risks and benefits with you in detail before the procedure.

Before you come in

Please let the doctor who referred you for this procedure know if you take warfarin (tablet to thin the blood) or have any allergies. A few days before your radio frequency ablation you will need to have a blood test to check how well your blood will clot. This is to make sure that you are not likely to bleed following the procedure.

Day of your procedure

Before the procedure

Before your procedure please have nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours. This is very important otherwise you will not be able to have the procedure. 

In the CT scanning department, a nurse and doctor will ask you several questions about your health and current medication. This is an opportunity to discuss the procedure before signing a consent form. Please ask any questions you may have as it is important that you understand what is going to happen.

During the procedure

You will be put to sleep by the anaesthetist. We will take some pictures using the CT to find the tumour.  Once we have found the tumour, your skin will be cleaned with antiseptic. A sterile drape will then be placed over you.

Local anaesthetic will be put under your skin to numb it. The radio frequency needle is placed into the tumour, guided by the CT pictures. Once the right position is found, the cells are ablated. The anaesthetist will look after you throughout the procedure.

After the procedure

After the procedure, you will be woken up by the anaesthetist. You need to wake up fully before going to the ward or to the Royal Marsden Hospital. You will have an oxygen mask on for a couple of hours.  In the ward you need to stay in bed for 4–6 hours.  The nurse will take your pulse and blood pressure regularly and monitor the puncture site. You can drink after 2 hours and eat after 4 hours. If you feel any pain, let the nurses know and they will give you pain relief. You need to stay in hospital overnight, but usually can go home the next morning.

Going home

Once your nurse is happy that you have recovered completely from your radio frequency ablation you will be discharged from hospital and your friend/family member can take you home.

After you are home

  • Please rest quietly at home for the remainder of the day and the following day
  • The waterproof dressing may remain on for 3–4 days
  • Avoid baths during this time until the skin site is healed—you may only shower
  • You must avoid excessive activity or lifting anything greater than 5 kg (11 lb) for the next 5–7 days—if your job involves heavy manual work, you are advised to take a week off, please let your nurse know if you need a medical certificate
  • If your job doesn’t involve any manual work or lifting, you can return to work 2 days after the procedure

Please contact your GP if you experience any pain on breathing, severe pain in your stomach or a high temperature. Out-of-hours, if sever pain occurs, go to your nearest A&E.

Contact information

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Interventional Radiology Department
1st Floor, Lift Bank D

T: 020 3315 8570/8582