CC BY 4.0Neizert, ChristinaChristinaNeizertDo, H.N.CH.N.CDoRieder, C.C.RiederSinden, DavidDavidSindenNiehues, S.M.S.M.NiehuesVahldiek, J.L.J.L.VahldiekLehmann, K.S.K.S.LehmannPoch, F.G.M.F.G.M.Poch2022-11-242022-11-242022-10-12https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/429147https://doi.org/10.24406/publica-55410.1038/s41598-022-21437-410.24406/publica-554The aim of this study was a three-dimensional analysis of vascular cooling effects on microwave ablation (MWA) in an ex vivo porcine model. A glass tube, placed in parallel to the microwave antenna at distances of 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mm (A–V distance), simulated a natural liver vessel. Seven flow rates (0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 100, 500 ml/min) were evaluated. Ablations were segmented into 2 mm slices for a 3D-reconstruction. A qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed. 126 experiments were carried out. Cooling effects occurred in all test series with flow rates ≥ 2 ml/min in the ablation periphery. These cooling effects had no impact on the total ablation volume (p > 0.05) but led to changes in ablation shape at A–V distances of 5.0 mm and 10.0 mm. Contrary, at a A–V distance of 2.5 mm only flow rates of ≥ 10 ml/min led to relevant cooling effects in the ablation centre. These cooling effects influenced the ablation shape, whereas the total ablation volume was reduced only at a maximal flow rate of 500 ml/min (p = 0.002). Relevant cooling effects exist in MWA. They mainly depend on the distance of the vessel to the ablation centre.enjournal article