Heavner James E, Boswell Mark V, Racz Gabor B
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, International Pain Institute, Department of Anesthesiology, Lubbock 79430, USA.
Pain Physician. 2006 Apr;9(2):135-7.
Clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF). PRF energy is delivered to neural structures via specifically designed, percutaneously placed needles to treat some chronic pain states. PRF was introduced as a non-destructive alternative to destructive lesioning produced by continuous radiofrequency (CRF) energy. However, there is an ongoing controversy regarding the potential tissue-destructive effects of PRF used for pain management.
To evaluate the ability of PRF to coagulate egg white at various temperatures used clinically and to compare with CRF.
A commercially available (TYCO-Radionics Labs) 5 cm, 22G (0.7 mm) SMK needle with 5 mm active tip was inserted into a 10 mL test tube containing raw egg white at 37 degrees C and the tip was heated up to 80 degrees C. The photographic patterns of thermocoagulation of egg white in vitro produced by continuous and pulsed radiofrequency (RF) were compared and the lowest temperature at which PRF produced thermocoagulation was determined.
Pulsed RF produced barely detectable thermocoagulation at 60 degrees C. Above 60 degrees C, the pattern of coagulation produced by PRF resembled that observed with CRF. However, the density and size of the coagulation ball appeared somewhat greater with CRF.
PRF coagulated egg white at temperatures above 60degrees C in a manner similar to CRF. Monitoring needle tip temperature using the thermode supplied with the needle during PRF and keeping the recorded tip temperature below 60degrees C may minimize unwanted thermal destruction of tissue.
临床研究已证实脉冲射频（PRF）的疗效。PRF能量通过专门设计的经皮穿刺针传递至神经结构，以治疗某些慢性疼痛状态。PRF作为连续射频（CRF）能量产生的破坏性损伤的一种非破坏性替代方法被引入。然而，关于PRF用于疼痛管理的潜在组织破坏作用仍存在争议。
评估PRF在临床使用的不同温度下使蛋清凝固的能力，并与CRF进行比较。
将一根市售的（泰科-放射实验室）5厘米、22G（0.7毫米）、尖端活性长度为5毫米的SMK针插入一个装有37摄氏度生蛋清的10毫升试管中，并将针尖加热至80摄氏度。比较连续和脉冲射频（RF）在体外产生的蛋清热凝的图像模式，并确定PRF产生热凝的最低温度。
脉冲RF在60摄氏度时产生几乎无法检测到的热凝。在60摄氏度以上，PRF产生的凝固模式类似于CRF观察到的模式。然而，CRF产生的凝固球的密度和尺寸似乎更大。
PRF在60摄氏度以上的温度下以类似于CRF的方式使蛋清凝固。在PRF期间使用针附带的热电极监测针尖温度，并将记录的针尖温度保持在60摄氏度以下，可能会使组织的不必要热破坏最小化。
