Study Limitations
This benchtop model was designed to simulate TSP in clinical practice
while allowing a direct measurement of TSP effectiveness and examination
of tissue defects using ex vivo swine tissues. However, it did not
account for factors such as blood flow and body temperature, which may
affect tissue quality, heat dissipation and puncture site response.
Application of diathermy to guidewires in this study was manually
approximated to 2 seconds to mimic typical clinical use. This may have
resulted in greater energy delivery than the 1 second output used with
the dedicated radiofrequency wire. Histological examination of punctured
tissues was not performed. Further in vivo studies are needed to confirm
the observations from the present model as well as assess cost
implications. A prior study comparing a dedicated RF needle system with
a mechanical needle for TSP found that the overall cost of performing a
TSP was lower with the RF needle despite higher equipment
costs.46