Copyright
©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2008; 14(41): 6425-6427
Published online Nov 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.6425
Published online Nov 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.6425
Rare pulmonary and cerebral complications after transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report
Hua Zhao, Hui-Qin Wang, Qing-Qiu Fan, Xing-Xian Chen, Jian-Ying Lou, Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Zhao H and Lou JY contributed equally to this work; Zhao H, Lou JY, Wang HQ, Fan QQ, Chen XX, observed and treated the patient with rare complications; Zhao H and Lou JY wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Jian-Ying Lou, Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China. loujianying@163.com
Telephone: +86-571-87784720 Fax: +86-571-87784740
Received: June 30, 2008
Revised: October 21, 2008
Accepted: October 28, 2008
Published online: November 7, 2008
Revised: October 21, 2008
Accepted: October 28, 2008
Published online: November 7, 2008
Abstract
We report a rare case of acute pulmonary and cerebral complication after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma. The case involved a large tumor and hepatic vein invasion. Nonspecific pulmonary and cerebral symptoms such as acute dyspnoea and transient consciousness loss developed in the patient, a 49-year-old woman, following the TACE due to pulmonary and cerebral oil embolism. The chest and brain conditions of this patient improved after some supportive therapies and nursing interventions. She also subsequently completed the other three procedures of TACE.
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Chemoembolization; Therapeutic; Pulmonary embolism; Cerebral embolism