Balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolization using a 1.8-French tip Coaxial microballoon catheter for hepatocellular carcinoma: Technical and safety considerations

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the technical feasibility and safety considerations of balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolization (B-TACE) using a newly developed 1.8-French (Fr) tip microballoon catheter for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Material and methods: Between February 2013 and May 2013, 31 patients (20 males, 11 females; age range 56–85 years) underwent B-TACE using a 1.8-Fr tip microballoon catheter for unresectable HCC. The technical success rate, procedural complications, and adverse events of B-TACE were retrospectively investigated. Results: A total of 31 patients were subjected to 70 sessions of B-TACE using a 1.8-Fr tip microballoon catheter. The level of B-TACE was sub-subsegmental in 11, subsegmental in 35, segmental in 14, lobar in five, and right inferior phrenic artery in five sessions. The overall technical success rate was 99% (69 out of 70 sessions). As procedural complications, rupturing of the microballoon (n = 3) and aneurysmal dilatation at the site of balloon occlusion (n = 2) were encountered. There were no significant differences in any parameters between blood biochemical examination before and between two to four weeks after the procedure. Conclusion: A 1.8-Fr tip microballoon catheter enables selective catheterization in patients with HCC and B-TACE using the 1.8-Fr tip microballoon catheter is a safe procedure.

Key words:

• Interventional radiology
• catheter interventions
• minimally invasive procedures
• balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolization
• hepatocellular carcinoma
• microballoon catheter

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Prof. Tetsuya Suzuki, Prof. Atsushi Hotta and their students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Keio University, for their help in the creation some of the figures.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest.