Effects of Non-Focused Microbubble-Enhanced and High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound on Hemostasis in a Rabbit Model of Liver Trauma

Uncontrolled hemorrhage after trauma to the liver can lead to death. The present study compared the effects of non-focused microbubble-enhanced ultrasound and high-intensity focused ultrasound on hepatic hemostasis in the injured liver. Blood perfusion level, serum liver enzyme levels and the aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase ratio differed between the two types of treatment (all p values < 0.05). Hepatic cells in the microbubble-enhanced ultrasound group exhibited edema and compressed the hepatic sinus and blood vessels in the portal area. Coagulation and necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrous tissue encapsulation were observed in the high-intensity focused ultrasound group at later stages. The groups also differed in degree of ultrastructural damage and recovery time. Thus, microbubble-enhanced ultrasound has less of an impact on blood reperfusion and surrounding normal tissue than high-intensity focused ultrasound and is a better choice for the treatment of liver trauma.