Life-threatening hemorrhage after liver radiofrequency ablation successfully controlled by transarterial embolization.
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.
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.
Xing-Yu
XY
Wu
Xiao-Lei
XL
Shi
Jian-Xin
JX
Zhou
Yu-Dong
YD
Qiu
Tie
T
Zhou
Bing
B
Han
Yi-Tao
YT
Ding
Complication; Embolization; Hepatic angiography; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Radiofrequency ablation