Hepatic Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Complicated by Postembolization Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Postembolization syndrome (PES) is a common complication after embolic procedures, and it is a frequent cause of extended inpatient hospital admissions. PES is a self-limited constellation of symptoms consisting of fevers, unremitting nausea, general malaise, loss of appetite, and variable abdominal pain following the procedure. Although a definite cause is unknown, this syndrome is thought to be a result of therapeutic cytotoxicity, tumor ischemia, and resulting intrahepatic and extrahepatic inflammation. The authors report a case of PES precipitated by transcatheter intrarterial chemoembolization of hepatic metastases.

KEYWORDS

Postembolization syndrome (PES) - chemoembolization - hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) - transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) - complications - embolization complications

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