Splenic infarction, a complication of transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization for liver malignancies.

Abstract

Splenic infarction was recognized in five of 37 patients who had hepatic neoplasms and who were being examined after transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization by CT during a follow-up study. CT images of the spleen showed multiple low density areas of a wedge or fused-wedge shape in most patients and of a rod or round shape in others. These low density areas decreased in size in time, and in two patients they disappeared in three months. Three of the five patients complained of a dull pain in the left upper quadrant that did not require any treatment. CT is effective in the diagnosis and assessment of splenic infarction. Awareness of this complication will help to avoid it when hepatic arterial embolization is being performed.

Liver abscess complicating transcatheter arterial embolization

“…The complications of this procedure vary from the commonly encountered post-TAE syndrome (nausea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain) [1,2], to less commonly encountered gastrointestinal bleeding [1], cholangitis [3], cholecystitis [4], gallbladder infarction [1,4], splenic infarction [5], liver abscess [1,4], renal failure [6], pulmonary embolism [1] and spinal cord injury [1]. Of these, liver abscess is rare and potentially fatal.…”

Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma via the Inferior Pancreaticoduodenal Artery in Patients with Celiac Artery Stenosis

“…Recently, splenic infarction was recognized as an untoward side effect of therapeutic transcatheter embolization for gastric bleeding (26), hypersplenism (25), and hepatic tumors (21). TAKAYASU et al (21) noted splenic infarction in 5 out of 37 patients with hepatic tumor treated by embolization mainly from the proper hepatic artery or from one of its branches. In our series, splenic infarction developed in 8 out of 12 patients in group A.…”

Effect of preoperative interventions on outcome following liver resection in a rat model of cirrhosis

“…The technique has some problems associated with its use, including ernbolization to the cystic artery and the splenic artery [117], [118].…”

“…The effect of TAE is lirnited by the formation of collateral vessels which develop within a few days of treatment [118].…”