TACE (TRANS ARTERIAL CHEMO EMBOLISATION)
What it is:
- It is procedure for injecting chemotherapy directly into the blood vessel feeding the tumour in the liver and blocking off the blood supply. That’s why it is call Trans-arterial chemo embolisation (TACE).
Why it is preferred over traditional chemotherapy:
- Fewer side effects as drugs do not circulate through the body.
- Chemo embolisation works in two ways:
– it gives high doses of chemotherapy to the tumour.
– it reduces the blood supply to the tumour and so tumour will be cut off from oxygen and the nutrients which is required for its growth.
- Other advantages like:
– Drugs are directly injected to the tumour in more concentrated form.
Drugs deposited into tumour so it will continue to affect the tumours for up to a month (as shown in image).
Preparation for procedure:
- Few basic blood investigations like LFT, CBC, PT/INR, viral markers.
- Fasting for 4-6 hrs.
- Bring all the records including imaging record.
- Signing consent form.
Duration of procedure:
- We are fast and competent to provide you comfortable environment and ease your anxiety. Approx. time for procedure is 1 to 1.5 hour.
What are risks:
- Pain, Fever and liver function derangement (1-2 %).
