Cryoablation

Cryoablation is EnvitaIR’s™ new and exciting way to precisely target difficult to treat tumors that are too large or too closely located to a major blood vessel to be considered eligible for surgical removal. Cryoablation is a non-surgical and minimally invasive procedure that uses extremely low temperatures to safely destroy tumors. Cryoablation does not utilize harmful chemotherapies and can accurately treat tumors while reducing the possibility for harmful and debilitating side effects.

How Does Cryoablation Work?

During cryoablation, a thin, wand like needle (cryoprobe) is inserted through your skin and directly into the cancerous tumor. A gas is pumped into the cryoprobe in order to freeze the tissue. Then the tissue is allowed to thaw. The freezing and thawing process is repeated several times during the same treatment session.

Cryoablation can be used to relieve the pain and other symptoms caused by cancer that spreads to the bone (bone metastasis) or other organs. Cryoablation can be considered if you cannot undergo general anesthesia. This is a minimally invasive procedure that is compatible with other cancer treatments because new chemicals are not being introduced to the body that could interfere with a pre-existing prescription. Furthermore, cryoablation can also be repeated in the future without additional risk if new tumors develop.

What to Expect Prior to the Procedure?

Your Envita Physician will discuss your medications and supplements with you before going forward with cryoablation.

You may need to temporarily stop taking aspirin, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) or blood thinners for a few days before the treatment as these can increase the risk of bleeding. Your physician will assist you on how long prior to your procedure you will need to stop taking these medications.

If you are pregnant, it is important to let your doctor know, to minimize radiation exposure to your baby during the X-ray procedure.

Have a plan for someone to drive you home after the procedure.

Do not eat anything up to 6 hours before coming to the clinic to receive cryoablation.

What to Expect During the Procedure?

Local anesthetic will be used at the area where a small incision will be made to insert a slender catheter. The doctor will then guide the tip of the catheter towards the tumor with the assistance of X-ray fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or a different visualization technique depending on your specific health requirements. A refrigerant is cycled through a needle in the tip of the catheter (just like air-conditioning or your refrigerator!) which cools the needle to –40 degrees Celsius. This is cold enough to freeze and destroy cancerous tissue almost instantly while the surrounding tissue remains intact.

What to Expect After the Procedure?

The incision will be covered with a dressing and then you will be taken into the recovery room to rest for a while.

You can expect to stay on our recovery bed for a short time, after which, you will be able to go home.

You can expect to resume all your normal activities within 7 to 10 days.

For the first 24 hours after receiving cryoablation, you should not drive or operate heavy machinery and should avoid strenuous activity.

You may shower as soon as you get home. Keep water temperature mild, not extremely hot, or extremely cold. Wash your incisions gently with water and mild soap. Gently pat your incision sites to dry them after your shower.

Do NOT take baths, go swimming, or sit in a hot tub for 14 days after your procedure.

Please do not lift anything weighing more than ten pounds until after your follow up visit, as directed by your physician.

You can return to your normal activities, including exercising, one week after your procedure.

Change the dressing as needed, your nurse will give you information on how to change your dressing.

For the next month, you will need to check in regularly with your Envita Physician so that your progress can be monitored and to determine if the procedure will need to be repeated.

Risk of the Procedure

Some of the risks include:

Stroke

Pericardial tamponade

Narrowing of the pulmonary veins

Damage to the phrenic nerve

Damage to the blood vessels in your groin area

Rare risk of atrioesophageal fistula, or bleeding between the atrium and esophagus

Other risks include irritation, infection or bleeding occurring where the catheter was inserted

What to Watch Out For:

Excessive bleeding where the catheter was placed.

Pain or swelling that gets bad quickly.

Vomiting of blood.

A fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

A cough that will not go away

Fluid retention such as swelling in your feet or ankles.

Trouble breathing when at rest or lying down.

If you revert to atrial fibrillation and stay in it for more than a few hours or if you feel symptoms from your atrial fibrillation.

Trouble swallowing.

Trouble taking your medicines as prescribed.

Difficulty or pain with urination.

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANY OF THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS. CONTACT YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY MEDICAL FACILITY AS YOU MAY NEED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

Envita’s Promise

EnvitaIR™ is comprised of an expert team of Interventional Oncologists who are among the most qualified in the country at the combination of conventional and natural medicine. We wish to offer you the most sophisticated and advanced medical techniques that science has to offer, combined with holistic and supportive natural medicine to target your whole healthcare needs. If you have any further questions or concerns about the cryoablation procedure, please do not hesitate to ask your Envita nurse or physician for further clarification.