[The role of embolization and chemo-embolization in the emergency treatment of hemoperitoneum caused by spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Twelve caucasian patients with intraperitoneal hemorrhage due to spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma were treated by emergency transcatheter arterial embolization (n = 9) or chemoembolization (n = 3). Pretreatment angiography showed active bleeding (extravasation of contrast medium) in two patients only. Successful hemostasis was initially achieved in all patients. Early recurrence of hemorrhage was noted in 3 patients with large tumors; two were successfully treated by a second embolization and one died immediately after the first embolization. Of the 12 patients, two underwent subsequent chemoembolization while two had surgical resection of their tumors. The mean length of survival was 7 months from the time of rupture. No serious complications related to embolization or chemoembolization were noted. Our data suggest that emergency embolization or chemoembolization is an effective treatment in caucasian patients with intraperitoneal hemorrhage from hepatocellular carcinoma. Prognosis of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma in those patients, however, remains poor.