Polyvinyl Alcohol Embolization Adjuvant to Oily Chemoembolization in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Arterioportal Shunts

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and safety of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) embolization adjuvant to transarterial oily chemoembolization (P-TACE) in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with arterioportal shunts (APS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients who underwent PVA embolization for APS before a routine chemoembolization (TACE) procedure were retrospectively reviewed. 10 of these 19 patients underwent follow-up TACE or P-TACE after P-TACE (Group A), but nine patients underwent only initial P-TACE because of progression of HCC and/or underlying liver cirrhosis (Group B). Hepatic function tests, APS grades, and portal flow directions were evaluated before and after P-TACE sessions. Complications after procedures and survival days were also evaluated. RESULTS: In group A, APS grade was improved in eight patients and five of six patients with hepatofugal flow showed restored hepatopetal flow postoperatively. No immediate complication was developed in either group. Transient hepatic insufficiency developed in eight (42.1%) of 19 patients after P-TACE, and seven (87.5%) of these eight recovered within two weeks under conservative care. The mean and median survival time all study subjects was 280 days and 162 days. CONCLUSION: P-TACE is feasible and safe in advanced HCC patients with APS.

The Safety and Efficacy of Hemostasis with Clo-Sur P.A.D. after Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new hemostatic device, Clo-Sur P.A.D., at an arterial access site after performing femoral arterial catheterization to achieve transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 2002 to March 2005, 113 patients who underwent TACE and agreed on using the Clo-Sur P.A.D. were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the mean time interval from compression to the first movement and also to the first walk. We also evaluated such complications as rebleeding, pseudoaneurysm, vascular occlusion, hematoma, infection and pain. For 92 patients who had previous experiences with manual compression, we evaluated their preference of hemostatic method by asking them. RESULTS: Successful hemostasis was achieved with the Clo-Sur P.A.D. in 105 subjects (92%). The mean time interval from compression to the first movement was 201 minutes, and that to the first walk was 267 minutes. There was no statistical difference between the complicated and the uncomplicated groups for the mean time, prothrombin time, Child-Pugh class and platelet count (p > 0.05). Rebleeding occurred in 3 patients (2.7%) and mild hematoma around puncture site was noted in 5 patients (5.4%). Eighty-seven patients (95%) preferred Clo-Sur P.A.D. to the manual compression method. CONCLUSION: The Clo-Sur P.A.D. is a safe and effective hemostatic device and it provides early ambulation after TACE.

Microvascular Injury of the Peribiliary Plexus Associated with Transarterial Chemoembolization: A Study of Surgical Specimens

PURPOSE: We attempted to evaluate the relationship between transarteiral chemoembolization (TACE) and injury to the peribiliary plexus by evaluating the number of microvessels in the peribiliary plexus of surgical specimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical specimens were obtained from 78 hepatocellular carcinoma patients and 22 patients with liver metastases. They were divided into 4 groups (Group 1; hepatocellular carcinoma without TACE [n=30], Group 2; hepatocellular carcinoma receiving preoperative TACE once [n=37], Group 3; hepatocellular carcinoma receiving preoperative TACE more than two times [n=11] and Group 4; metastatic carcinoma of the liver patients without a history of liver disease [n=22]). Immunohistochemical staining for factor VIII-related antigen was performed in all the specimens and the number of microvessels in the inner capillary layer and the outer venous layer of the bile duct (> 200 micrometer in diameter) was counted. RESULTS: The mean numbers of microvessels in the inner capillary layer were 4.50, 4.08, 1.64 and 2.05, and those in the outer venous layer were 25.23, 20.00, 18.36 and 12.32 for the 4 groups, respectively. The number of microvessels in group 4 was statistically fewer than that of group 1 (p<0.01). In the hepatocellular carcinoma patients, the number of microvessels was decreased as the number of TACE sessions was increased. CONCLUSION: The number of microvessels in the peribiliary plexus is increased in chronic liver disease patients. It may be from the increased portal pressure and flow stagnation in the sinusoidal and portal venules. TACE can have an effect on microvascular injury of the peibiliary plexus, and this can be a cause of bile duct necrosis and biloma.