ABSTRACT
Purpose Many interventional radiology procedures are suitable as day case procedures. Other, historically inpatient procedures, may be suitable as day case procedures with appropriate safeguards and evaluation. With increasing inpatient bed pressures, and the risks to patients from the COVID pandemic, we evaluated the recent introduction of a day case pathway for patients undergoing TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and methods Patients undergoing TACE at our centre between 01/01/2020 and 09/11/2021 were identified using radiology archive systems (PACS). A day case procedure was defined as a patient who was admitted, and discharged on, the day of the procedure. All patients received a maximum of 50mg of Doxorubicin instilled embospheres. Electronic patient data systems were scrutinised to identify any post-procedural adverse events, defined as either an unplanned admission to hospital, in-hospital complications, or post-procedural mortality within 30 days. Results During the study period, 55 patients underwent TACE procedures, of which 40 were day case procedures. 3/40 (7.5%) day case patients experienced adverse events. One patient was admitted overnight due to abdominal pain, one re-admission to hospital with cholecystitis and one postprocedural mortality. 2/15 (13.3%) of non-day case TACE patients experienced adverse events, with one post-procedural mortality and one hospital readmission with cholecystitis. Conclusion A day case strategy was feasible in the majority of patients undergoing TACE (40/55, 73%). In our initial experience, adverse events were not increased in patients undergoing day case TACE procedures, and this remains a safe option for patients.