Nanoknife: Minimally Invasive Cancer Treatment
Online, March 15, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center - top cancer hospitals in the capital city has recently introduced Nanoknife, a Minimally Invasive Cancer treatment which uses irreversible electroporation technology. This is the best option for patients in challenging and high risk locations like kidney, liver and pancreas. It exactly targets and kills hard to reach tumors at the cellular level.
According to a senior consultant and chief at GI Onco surgery &liver transplant, Dr. Shivendra Singh, Nanoknife is able to target small tumors which are less than five centimeters in size and often go unrecognized. They are difficult to remove due to their critical location or they have failed to respond the conventional treatment. The device has been developed by AngioDynamics, USA and costs about 15 crores.
Nanoknife System uses electrical currents to destroy cancerous cells instead of using microwave, extreme heat or extreme cold. This device can be used for both primary tumors and for tumors that have been metastasized or that spread to other organs of the body. Let us understand how does the system work?
How Does Nanoknife Work?
First the patient is put under general anesthesia, after which the interventional radiologist carefully inserts six thin needles or electrodes into the patient's body which are placed strategically around the tumor. Then the device sends electrical currents or pulses between each needle to puncture the permanent nanometer-sized holes into the tumor. This process is known as irreversible electroporation (IRE) which unbalances the cancer cells and triggers a cell 'suicide' by killing the tumor.
The electrical pulses around the electrodes minimize the damage to the surrounding healthy cells, blood vessels and other important structures. When the tumor gets destroyed, your body is equipped to fight with other dead cells which are replaced by healthy cells. The procedure usually lasts from two to four hours for Pediatric Cancer Treatment. When the procedure is done the patient is hospitalized overnight for observation and usually discharged the following day. The patient is also given antibiotic before and after the procedure to fight with any kind of infection.
Know About the Potential Benefits of Nanoknife
Here are some potential benefits of Nanoknife. It provides Minimally Invasive option for patients with difficult to reach or inoperable tumors. These are also for tumors that are present near critical structures in the body like gallbladder, bile ducts, bowel and major blood vessels. Instead of using extreme heat or cold, it uses electrical currents to destroy cancerous cells. With this device there are no open incisions, less damage to healthy cells, minimal post operative pain, short hospital stay, fast recovery time and the ability to repeat the procedure if new tumor develops.
Nanoknife is also the best alternative for patients with limited treatment options or failed treatment. This is a cutting edge technology and useful in place if radiation therapy. It is much different from other treatment like cyberknife and traditional surgery. The treatment is fact and the result has much success ratio. The patients with cardiac pacemaker, abnormal heartbeat and nerve stimulators are not eligible for this procedure.
Contact Details:
Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre
Sector - 5, Rohini
Delhi - 110 085, India
Helpline: +91-11-47022222
Appointment: +91-11-47022070 / 71
bajpai.sachendra@rgcirc.org