What should you know about Nanoknife for liver metastases?

Nanoknife is a form of irreversible electroporation. During the procedure, a specialist places thin probes around or through a liver tumour using imaging guidance. Short electrical pulses change the membranes of targeted cells, allowing the body to clear the treated tissue over time. Because the method does not rely on heat, the team considers the relationship of the tumour to bile ducts, blood vessels, and other structures when assessing suitability.

Liver metastases are cancer deposits that have spread to the liver from another site, such as [Bowel Cancer](/conditions/colorectal-cancer/) or [Pancreatic Cancer](/conditions/pancreatic-cancer/). Nanoknife may be one part of a wider plan that can include [Chemotherapy](/treatments/systemic-therapy/chemotherapy/), surgery, or another local treatment. It is not suitable for every tumour or every person.

Your team will review scans, tumour size and position, liver function, previous treatments, and your general health. Ask whether the procedure will use general anaesthesia, how many probes are expected, and whether you should pause medicines that affect bleeding. Arrange transport and support for recovery if sedation or anaesthesia is planned. Follow instructions about fasting, medicines, and wound care exactly.

After treatment, seek urgent help for severe abdominal pain, fainting, chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, or heavy bleeding. Contact the treating team promptly for fever, worsening jaundice, persistent vomiting, increasing abdominal swelling, or redness and discharge around a probe site. These symptoms need assessment because the liver and nearby structures can be affected by local treatment.

Why is Nanoknife being considered for my metastases? Are the tumours close to a blood vessel or bile duct? What alternatives include [Liver Resection](/treatments/surgical-oncology/liver-resection/) or [Tumour Ablation](/treatments/surgical-oncology/tumour-ablation/)? How will response be assessed, and what symptoms require urgent contact?