Case Report
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Hepatol. Dec 27, 2012; 4(12): 419-421
Published online Dec 27, 2012. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v4.i12.419
Life-threatening hemorrhage after liver radiofrequency ablation successfully controlled by transarterial embolization
Xing-Yu Wu, Xiao-Lei Shi, Jian-Xin Zhou, Yu-Dong Qiu, Tie Zhou, Bing Han, Yi-Tao Ding
Xing-Yu Wu, Xiao-Lei Shi, Jian-Xin Zhou, Yu-Dong Qiu, Tie Zhou, Bing Han, Yi-Tao Ding, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated DrumTower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China
Correspondence to: Yi-Tao Ding, Professor, Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated DrumTower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China. yitaoding@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-25-83304616 Fax:+86-25-83317016
Received: May 11, 2012
Revised: July 11, 2012
Accepted: November 14, 2012
Published online: December 27, 2012
Abstract

A 59-year-old man underwent liver radiofrequency ablation under laparotomy for recurrent hepatic carcinoma located in the caudate lobe, however, near-fatal bleeding occurred 1 wk after the operation. The intra-operative ultrasound study during laparotomy revealed left hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm. Suture and packing with ribbon gauze was used to obtain hemostasis. A secondary hemorrhage followed 11 h later and hepatic angiography was performed immediately. Bleeding from the pseudoaneurysm in a branch of the left hepatic artery was found and the artery branch was embolized with coils. Other than slight bile leakage, post-embolization continued satisfactorily. Bleeding did not reoccur. The follow up visit 1 mo later found the pseudoaneurysm disappearing and no tumor recurrence.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Radiofrequency ablation, Complication, Hepatic angiography, Embolization