Laparoscopic ice slurry coolant for renal hypothermia.

PURPOSE: We assessed the safety and efficacy of microparticulate ice slurry for laparoscopic hypothermia during renal ischemia in a single kidney porcine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 18 farm pigs were randomized to 3 groups of 6 each. All groups underwent initial right laparoscopic nephrectomy, followed by 1 of 3 procedures on the left kidney. Group 1 underwent 90-minute hilar clamping under warm ischemia, group 2 underwent 90-minute hilar clamping under cold ischemia using laparoscopically delivered microparticulate ice slurry and control group 3 underwent hilar dissection, no clamping and no microparticulate ice slurry. Body and renal cortical temperatures were measured. Serum creatinine and the glomerular filtration rate were assessed preoperatively, and on postoperative days 1, 3, 8 and 15. RESULTS: Average time to achieve a renal temperature of 20C or less was 9.7 minutes and it remained constant during the 90-minute cold ischemia time. Mean serum creatinine was significantly higher in the warm ischemia group than in the cold ischemia and control groups on postoperative days 1 and 3. Additionally, mean serum creatinine in the cold ischemia and control groups was similar at all time points. The mean glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower in the warm ischemia group than in the cold ischemia and control groups on postoperative days 1, 3 and 8. The mean glomerular filtration rate in the cold ischemia group was lower than in the control group on postoperative day 1, while it was similar on postoperative days 3, 8 and 15. CONCLUSIONS: In the porcine model laparoscopic renal hypothermia achieved with microparticulate ice slurry was safe and efficient. It significantly decreased renal dysfunction secondary to an ischemic insult with no adverse effects or complications associated with microparticulate ice slurry use.