Intraperitoneal Hemorrhage Due to Spontaneous Rupture of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Comparisons of Tranarterial Oily Chemoembolization and Simple Embolization with Gelfoam

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the safety and effectiveness of transarterial oily chemoembolization (TOCE) and transar-terial embolization (TAE) with Gelfoam in cases of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to describe the most important prognostic factors involved in emergency embolization. Materials and Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients with spontaneously ruptured HCC underwent emer-gency TOCE (n=22) or TGE (n=20). In the TOCE group, Lipiodol (3-10 cc), Adriamycin (20-50 mg), and Mitomycin (2-10 mg) were used, and these were followed by blockade of the hepatic arterial flow with gelatin sponge particles. In the TAE group, patients underwent only Gelfoam embolization. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, survival time from the time of embolization was estimated, and to analyze prognostic factors, Cox ’s proportional hazard regression model was used. Results: Successful hemostasis was achieved in 41 patients (97.6%). Mean survival time was 201 and 246 days in the TOCE and TAE group, respectively, but the difference was not tatistically significant (p0.05). Five of the TOCE group (22.7%) and three of the TAE group (15.0%) died of hepatic failure. Analysis of the prognostic factors showed that portal vein involvement by the tumor was the most important factor influencing survival. Conclusion: Although TOCE and TAE effectively controlled hemorrhaging from a ruptured HCC, the proce-dures involve a high risk of hepatic failure. Their goal should, therefore, be solely to achieve hemostasis, and thus decrease parenchymal injury.