ABSTRACT
Objective To study the anatomic characteristics of hepatogastric artery(HGA) and its significance in preventing gastrointestinal complications in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE).Methods 1000 cases of hepatic arteriograms were retrospectively reviewed,the aberrant gastrointestinal arteries that originate from proper hepatic artery(PHA)and distal intrahepatic arteries to PHA were named HGA.The frequency,origine,course and distribution of all of HGAs were carefully analyzed.The trial group consists of 34 cases(42 times of TACE)who had HGA and controlled group consists 32 cases(56 times of TACE)who had no HGA.The incidence of gastrointestinal complications after TACE between two groups were compared.Within trial group,superselective catheterization was made and had the tip of catheter away from orifice of the HGA before infusion of embolic agents(Lipiodol)during TACE in 18 times,which was called relative safety group;whereas,the tip of catheter was not laid distal to orifice of HGA when infused Lipiodol through catheter in 24 times,which was called dangerous group.The incidence of complications between this two groups was also compared.Results Of 1000 cases of hepatic arteriography,HGA was found in 740 cases (74%).The incidence of gastrointestinal complication and its grave degree in trial group were more excessive than that in controlled group((?=0.004),similarly,the frequency of gastrointestinal complication and its graveness in dangerous group exceeded significantly that in relative safety group((?=0.000).Conclusion HGA is common vascular variation.That embolic agents (Lipiodol)was perfused carelessly into HGA may induced occurrence of gastrointestinal complications in patients after TACE,and having the tip of catheter away from the orifice of HGA by superselective catheterization during TACE could efficiently prevent happening of this kind of complications after operation.