Factors affecting Post- Embolization fever and liver failure after Trans- Arterial Chemo-Embolization in a cohort without background infective hepatitis- A prospective analysis.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Transarterial-chemo-embolization (TACE) is used for palliation of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We studied the tolerability of TACE in a cohort of patients with NASH and alcoholic cirrhosis related HCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of 290 patients with HCC(July 2011 - December 2014), 84 underwent TACE. They were monitored for post-TACE complications: post embolization fever(PEF), nausea and vomiting (NV), abdominal pain, infection, acute hepatic decompensation (AHD) and acute kidney injury (AKI). RESULTS: 84 patients [90.5% males, 89.2% cirrhotics, 89.2% nodular HCC, median age 63(34-84) years] underwent 111 TACE sessions. All were Child class A [69.4% sessions(n=77)] or B; ascites and portal vein invasion was present in 18(16.2%) and 15(13.6%), respectively. 42 (38.2%) TACE procedures resulted in complications [PEF 28(25.2 %), NV 4(3.6%), abdominal pain 9(8.1%), infection 7(6.3%), AHD 13(11.7%), AKI 3(2.7%)]. There were no immediate post-TACE deaths. On univariate analysis elevated serum bilirubin (p=0.046) and low serum albumin (p=0.035) predicted PEF while low serum albumin (p=0.021) and low platelet counts (p=0.041) predicted AHD. In the multivariate model, factors with p 5 cm (p=0.049,OR=2.410)and elevated serum bilirubin (p=0.036,OR=1.517) predicted AHD. CONCLUSIONS: In NASH and alcoholic cirrhosis related HCC patients pre- procedure serum bilirubin, ascites, tumour size and female gender predicted PEF post-TACE. Tumours larger 5cm with elevated bilirubin predicted AHD post-TACE.