Left Brachial Approach for Transcatheter Arterial Embolization with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy in Patients

We evaluated the efficacy of thelipiodol-transcatheter arterial embolization (L-TAE)technique for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) performedusing a left brachial approach. A total of 64 procedureswere performed using the brachial route in 53patients with HCC between 1989 and 1996 using a 4-Frenchcatheter and these patients were retrospectivelystudied. The technical success rate was 95.3%. Theoverall complication rate was 31.3%: fever of over38.0°C lasting longer than three days (18.8%),transient neurologic complications (4.7%), andpancreatitis (1.6%). Complications such as lumbago, backpain, and dissection of the celiac artery or itsbranches, which frequently complicated femoralapproaches, were avoided. These data indicate that L-TAEusing the left brachial approach may be a safe andeffective alternative to the transfemoral approach inpatients with HCC.