Patient Stories and Testimonials

My Experience With Cryo Surgery at USC University Hospital

On August 23, 2004 I checked in at USC University Hospital to have a lesion in my liver ablated by cryosurgery which basically means freezing the unwanted tissue, thereby killing it. This is a minimally invasive procedure that would probably be outpatient but for the fact that I also have Hepatitis-C and cirrhosis, so I was kept overnight for observation.

The treatment consists of one or more "needles" placed directly into the tumor percutaneously. In other words, through the skin, NOT by open surgery. Then Argon gas flows through the probe and an ice ball forms at the end and freezes the target tissue and kills it.

For my tumor, three were used for freezing and one to blow up a little balloon to move my colon out of harms way. Pretty good trick!

The interventional radiologist, Dr. Katz, explained everything in great detail beforehand and, having done lots of research on a similar modality, radio frequency ablation, I was very much at ease and comfortable with what was about to take place that day.

The last thing I remember was the oxygen mask being put over my face and about four hours later I woke up and it was done. The doctors are quite confident that they got it all and I will be going in for a follow up CT scan about one month from the date of the procedure to confirm their success.

From the very next day, I began feeling much better than I had in a very long time.

I must say I’ve had rougher times at the dentist except for my ribs being quite sore afterwards. In my case the points of entry were between the ribs near my liver, which was the cause of my postoperative discomfort.

All cases are not done the same way; it all depends on the location of the mass.

I would like to take this opportunity to say that everyone involved with my case has been very kind and compassionate and the hospital is well run and kept very clean. I was wearing white socks and the bottoms remained white till I got home. Now that’s a clean floor!

In conclusion, I would do it again in a heartbeat and would not hesitate to recommend this lifesaving "surgery" to anyone who might be in need of it.