Histotripsy

What is Histotripsy?

Histotripsy is a cutting-edge form of ultrasound that utilizes pulsed sound waves to create “bubble clouds” from gases naturally found in targeted tissue. These tiny bubble clouds form and collapse in microseconds, producing powerful mechanical forces that can effectively break down tissue at the cellular and sub-cellular levels. Please check with your doctor to see if Histotripsy is right for you.

What makes Histotripsy so great?

Non- Invasive: The procedure allows you to avoid incisions, needles, or other insertions through the skin which can help reduce the risk of infection, bleeding, long recovery times and other complications.
Single Treatment: Histotripsy can be effective in destroying liver tumors in as little as one treatment, depending on the severity of your condition.
Targeted: Histotripsy can be used to precisely target and destroy unwanted tissue, such as tumors, without causing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

The Procedure

Step 1: Consultation – If you are considering histotripsy, you will meet with your doctor who will answer your questions and discuss your eligibility for this procedure. If approved for histotripsy, you will schedule a date and time for the procedure.
Step 2: Prep – Your doctor may require you to follow some dietary restrictions before the planned histotripsy. Be sure to follow all instructions before your planned date.
Step 3: Day of Procedure – You will be guided into a room with a histotripsy system. Your doctor may perform an ultrasound for additional confirmation of your tumor location. General anesthesia will be administered and your doctor will place a histotripsy treatment head over the targeted tumor.
Step 4: Histotripsy Begins – During the procedure, the treatment head delivers acoustic energy to the targeted tissue while your doctor monitors the treatment area using ultrasound imaging.
Step 5: Duration of Therapy – The procedure time will vary depending on specific variables and the number of histotripsy treatments delivered in one session.
Step 6: Recovery – After the treatment, you may experience some pain depending on the treatment area. Many patients can return home on the day of the procedure or the day after and usually resume their normal activities quickly.