Histotripsy procedures involve many patient-specific variables, including the severity of your disease, other medical conditions, as well as size and location of the targeted tissue. These factors can impact procedure length, anesthesia type and the number of treatments required.
Step 1: Consultation
If histotripsy is right for you, you will meet your doctor who will answer your questions and discuss your eligibility for this procedure. If approved for histotripsy, you will schedule a date and time for the procedure.
Step 2: Prep
Your doctor may require you to follow some dietary restrictions before the planned histotripsy. Be sure to follow all instructions before your planned date.
Step 3: Day of Procedure
You will be guided into a room with a histotripsy system. Your doctor may perform an ultrasound for additional confirmation of your tumor location. General anesthesia will be administered and your doctor will place a histotripsy treatment head over the targeted tumor.
Step 4: Histotripsy Begins
During the procedure, the treatment head delivers sound waves to the targeted area while your doctor uses ultrasound imaging to monitor the treatment.
Step 5: Duration of Treatment
The procedure time will vary depending on specific variables and the number of histotripsy treatments delivered in one session.
Step 6: Recovery
After the treatment, you may experience some pain, depending on the treatment area. Many patients can return home the same day or day after the procedure and usually resume their normal activities quickly.
