Reasons of liver abscess after interventional transhepatic artery chemoembolization for liver cancer and its nursing intervention

Objective To study the key points in clinical nursing for patients with liver abscess by retrospectively analyzing its risk factors after interventional transhepatic artery chemoembolization（TACE） for liver cancer. Methods Clinical data about liver abscess occurred in 17 out of 822 patients with liver cancer who underwent interventional TACE from February 2003 to February 2010 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.Another 17 patients who did not develop liver abscess after interventional TACE served as a control group.Their clinical manifestations and outcomes of treatment were observed,and the key clinical nursing points for such patients were summarized. Results Nineteen liver abscesses occurred in 822 liver cancer patients after 1 694 times of TACE with an incidence of 1.12%.The clinical manifestations of liver abscess included hepatomegaly,liver pain,fever,and leukocytosis,which occurred 9–29 days after operation（average 18±9 days）.One patient died because of delayed diagnosis and treatment,the remaining 16 patients were cured and discharged. Conclusion Liver abscess after TACE for liver cancer is characterized by certain clinical manifestations.Biliary obstruction before operation is its predisposing factor.Careful observation and nursing of such patients can improve its prognosis.