OBJECTIVESTo investigate the efficacy of interventional obstructive therapy for patients with liver cancer complicated with intrahepatic arteriovenous fistula.

METHODSForty-eight of 56 patients with liver cancer complicated with intrahepatic arteriovenous fistula, confirmed by angiography, were treated with interventional obstructive therapy. The manifestations of the angiography, abdominal distention, ascites, and 24 hour urine output of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS(1) The arteriovenous fistula connected with the main branches of hepatic artery were embolized effectively by interventional method. (2) After the treatment, the abdominal distention alleviated remarkably (x2 =13.59, P < 0.01), the amount of ascites decreased, 24 hour urine output increased significantly (t = 13.57, P < 0.01) and quality of life improved. (3) The lifespan of the treated patients was prolonged after the embolization therapy.

CONCLUSIONInterventional embolization is an effective palliative therapy for patients with liver cancer complicated with severe ascites and intrahepatic arteriovenous fistula. The good results of this therapy were associated with its effect in decreasing portal hypertension of the patients.