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NanoKnife® is one of the most advanced cancer treatment tools based on the principle of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE). Thermal ablation therapies that use extreme temperatures to kill cancerous cells have been used in cancer treatments. However, these treatments have disadvantages like longer treatment times and damage to healthy cells. NanoKnife® is the first ablation technique based on IRE that uses high-voltage electricity to create a strong electric field around the tumour cells and kills them. While killing cancer cells, Nanoknife spares vital and delicate structures like the blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, tendons, ducts and sphincters.
NanoKnife® is a minimally invasive cancer treatment tool highly effective in cases where the tumour has poor access, and surgery may not be an option.
NanoKnife® is a relatively new procedure, and its use in treating different types of cancers is still being studied. So far, IRE has been successful in treating many non-operable soft tissue tumours and metastatic cancers that include tumours of:
Despite its many benefits, not every person with cancer is a candidate for NanoKnife® treatment. An ideal candidate for NanoKnife® treatment should have:
NanoKnife® is contraindicated in patients with pacemakers, those with a history of cardiac conditions like irregular heartbeats, extensive spread of cancer in an organ, and severe metastases involving multiple organs.
Before a NanoKnife® procedure, your healthcare team will schedule imaging studies like an MRI using contrast dyes. These imaging tests enable your healthcare team to evaluate the size, exact location, position of vital organs and structures and plan the placement of IRE probes.
A NanoKnife® procedure is performed under general anaesthesia, making it comfortable and painless for you. Though the entire procedure takes around 90 minutes to complete, the actual IRE procedure takes just a few minutes.
During the procedure, your doctor will place two to six needles around the tumour that are guided into position using ultrasound or CT Scan. A series of short, strong electric pulses are sent out that damage the cells in the target area, thereby killing cancer cells. All this happens without cuts or incisions, enabling patients to recover quickly with a shorter hospital stay than traditional surgery.
A NanoKnife® IRE procedure is usually performed after three to six months of chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy. Your healthcare team will perform an imaging follow-up with you after a month of the procedure and evaluate the surgical area.
Benefits of NanoKnife® include:
Despite the many benefits of this procedure, NanoKnife® may cause side effects in some people, including: