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CHEMOEMBOLIZATION

 

You are receiving this information on Chemoembolization as part of your discharge instructions.

 

Chemoembolization is a procedure that delivers cancer treatment directly to a tumor. The liver is the most common part of the body for chemoembolization to be used, although it can be done in other areas. Under x-ray guidance, a small catheter is inserted into an artery in the groin. The catheter’s tip is threaded into the artery in the liver that supplies blood flow to the tumor. Chemotherapy is injected through the catheter into the tumor and mixed with particles that embolize or block the flow of blood to the diseased tissue.

 

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

 

  • You will need to sign consent.
  • You will be on a heart monitor, a blood pressure monitor, and your oxygen level will be monitored with a probe on your finger.
  • The doctor and technologist will be dressed in sterile clothing.
  • During the test you may be given some medicine to help you relax. Discuss any sedation concerns with the doctor before the test begins.
  • You will need to lie very still during the test.
  • The area in your arm or leg that will be used to insert the catheter will be washed and hair clipped.
  • You will get a numbing medicine put in the groin area, so you don’t feel the catheter going into the artery.
  • When the dye is given you may feel a warm, flushed feeling.
  • The person performing the test will watch your flow of blood on a TV monitor.
  • Pictures of your arteries will be taken during the procedure.
  • The doctor will put chemotherapy into the correct artery in your liver through the catheter.
  • Ask your doctor, nurse or technologist any questions you might have or tell them if you are uncomfortable in any way (you’re cold, need to urinate, having pain etc.)
  • The catheter will be removed when the procedure is done. It will be very important to keep pressure on the spot where the catheter was inserted. The technologist will apply the pressure as needed. A closure device to reduce the risk of bleeding will be used if applicable.
  • The test usually takes 1-3 hours.
  • You will have an IV in your arm or hand during and after the procedure until discharge.

 

BENEFITS

  • Clear, detailed, accurate view of the blood vessels.
  • Chemoembolization delivers a very high concentration of chemotherapy directly into the tumor, without exposing the entire body to the effects of those drugs.
  • In addition, the procedure cuts off blood supply to the tumor, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients, and trapping the drugs at the tumor site to enable them to be more effective.
  • Chemoembolization is intended to stop liver tumors from growing or cause them to shrink. The treatment usually can be repeated if the cancer starts to grow again.
  • Other types of therapy (tumor ablation, chemotherapy, radiation) may be used in combination with chemoembolization to control the tumor.
  • Chemoembolization potentially preserves liver function and adds more quality to your life.

 

RISKS

  • Embolization or blocking of the wrong site resulting in loss of blood supply to normal tissue.
  • Infection
  • Allergic reaction to contrast (dye)
  • Bleeding or bruising at the groin site.
  • Reactions to chemotherapy may include nausea, hair loss, a decrease in white blood cells, a decrease in platelets and anemia. Because chemoembolization traps most of the chemotherapy drugs in the liver, these reactions are usually mild.
  • Serious complications from chemoembolization occur in about one in 20 procedures. Most major complications involve either infection in the liver or damage to the liver. Reporting indicates that approximately one in 100 procedures result in death, usually due to liver failure.

 

POST PROCEDURAL DISCHARE INSTRUCTIONS:

DIET

Resume your routine diet as tolerated, starting with ice chips then clear liquids.

Drink lots of fluids over the next 24 hours (unless contraindicated) to flush the dye out of your system.

  • Nausea and loss of appetite are common for two weeks and may last longer.
  • Nausea medicine is available to you per doctor’s orders.

 

ACTIVITY

  • The sedation you received for your procedure is still in your system. Therefore, we would like you to take it easy the rest of the day and evening. You will probably be requested to remain in bed for 2 to 4 hours after the procedure. Check with your nurse before attempting to get up.
  • You will need to keep your leg or arm that was used for the catheter insertion straight for 2-4 hours after the procedure to decrease risk of bleeding at that site.
  • You may shower tomorrow but no tub baths for 2 days.
  • It is important to spend as much time in bed as possible for the one or two days after the procedure to improve blood flow to the liver.
  • Most patients are admitted for at least 23 hours post procedure and can remain in the hospital up to 5 days. Patients are discharged after pain and nausea have subsided.
  • Fatigue is common even after you are home.  It is important to rest and schedule activity with this in mind. Fatigue may last up to 1 month.

 

WOUND / INCISIONAL DEVICE CARE

  • A nurse will frequently check the site in your arm or leg where the catheter was placed. If you notice any swelling or bleeding, call your nurse.
  • The dressing or band aid will be removed the next day.
  • The site should be kept clean with soap and water without vigorous scrubbing.
  • If you had a closure device inserted where the catheter went in, you will receive a booklet on its care.

 

PAIN MANAGEMENT

  • Pain is the most common side effect and it occurs because the blood supply to the treated area is cut off. Pain medication will be available in the hospital and prescriptions for pain medications will be given for home use.
  • Fevers up to 101 degrees are normal and may last for 1-2 weeks after the procedure.
  • Fevers may be safely treated with Tylenol.

 

MEDICATION CHANGES

  • Take all your medications as ordered by your doctor. 
  • If you take blood thinners you may restart them after 24 hours unless otherwise indicated.
  • Discuss any other over the counter use of Aspirin and Ibuprophen products with your doctor before using them

 

POST PROCEDURE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO BE EXPECTED

  • Tenderness at the catheter insertion site.
  • Bruising at the same site.
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue

 

POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE NOTFICATION OF YOUR PHYSICIAN

  • Pain not relieved by pain medication.
  • Fever greater than 101.5 degrees for over 1 week.
  • Redness or pus from the catheter insertion site.
  • New or unusual symptoms.
  • Difficulty or inability to urinate.

 

POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

  • If your pain suddenly changes in degree or character without relief.
  • Temperature over 101.5 continuing after first week and suddenly increases.
  • Hives
  • Shortness of breath not normal for you.
  • Bleeding; if this should begin after you return home, you should lie down. Apply pressure to the site where the catheter was and have someone call your doctor right away.  If you are unable to get a hold of your doctor quickly or you cannot stop the bleeding with pressure, call 911.

 

You are a very important part of your recovery. Please ask your doctor or nurse any questions you may have regarding your discharge instructions

CHEMOEMBOLIZATION

 

You are receiving this information on Chemoembolization as part of your discharge instructions.

 

Chemoembolization is a procedure that delivers cancer treatment directly to a tumor. The liver is the most common part of the body for chemoembolization to be used, although it can be done in other areas. Under x-ray guidance, a small catheter is inserted into an artery in the groin. The catheter’s tip is threaded into the artery in the liver that supplies blood flow to the tumor. Chemotherapy is injected through the catheter into the tumor and mixed with particles that embolize or block the flow of blood to the diseased tissue.

 

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

 

  • You will need to sign consent.
  • You will be on a heart monitor, a blood pressure monitor, and your oxygen level will be monitored with a probe on your finger.
  • The doctor and technologist will be dressed in sterile clothing.
  • During the test you may be given some medicine to help you relax. Discuss any sedation concerns with the doctor before the test begins.
  • You will need to lie very still during the test.
  • The area in your arm or leg that will be used to insert the catheter will be washed and hair clipped.
  • You will get a numbing medicine put in the groin area, so you don’t feel the catheter going into the artery.
  • When the dye is given you may feel a warm, flushed feeling.
  • The person performing the test will watch your flow of blood on a TV monitor.
  • Pictures of your arteries will be taken during the procedure.
  • The doctor will put chemotherapy into the correct artery in your liver through the catheter.
  • Ask your doctor, nurse or technologist any questions you might have or tell them if you are uncomfortable in any way (you’re cold, need to urinate, having pain etc.)
  • The catheter will be removed when the procedure is done. It will be very important to keep pressure on the spot where the catheter was inserted. The technologist will apply the pressure as needed. A closure device to reduce the risk of bleeding will be used if applicable.
  • The test usually takes 1-3 hours.
  • You will have an IV in your arm or hand during and after the procedure until discharge.

 

BENEFITS

  • Clear, detailed, accurate view of the blood vessels.
  • Chemoembolization delivers a very high concentration of chemotherapy directly into the tumor, without exposing the entire body to the effects of those drugs.
  • In addition, the procedure cuts off blood supply to the tumor, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients, and trapping the drugs at the tumor site to enable them to be more effective.
  • Chemoembolization is intended to stop liver tumors from growing or cause them to shrink. The treatment usually can be repeated if the cancer starts to grow again.
  • Other types of therapy (tumor ablation, chemotherapy, radiation) may be used in combination with chemoembolization to control the tumor.
  • Chemoembolization potentially preserves liver function and adds more quality to your life.

 

RISKS

  • Embolization or blocking of the wrong site resulting in loss of blood supply to normal tissue.
  • Infection
  • Allergic reaction to contrast (dye)
  • Bleeding or bruising at the groin site.
  • Reactions to chemotherapy may include nausea, hair loss, a decrease in white blood cells, a decrease in platelets and anemia. Because chemoembolization traps most of the chemotherapy drugs in the liver, these reactions are usually mild.
  • Serious complications from chemoembolization occur in about one in 20 procedures. Most major complications involve either infection in the liver or damage to the liver. Reporting indicates that approximately one in 100 procedures result in death, usually due to liver failure.

 

POST PROCEDURAL DISCHARE INSTRUCTIONS:

DIET

Resume your routine diet as tolerated, starting with ice chips then clear liquids.

Drink lots of fluids over the next 24 hours (unless contraindicated) to flush the dye out of your system.

  • Nausea and loss of appetite are common for two weeks and may last longer.
  • Nausea medicine is available to you per doctor’s orders.

 

ACTIVITY

  • The sedation you received for your procedure is still in your system. Therefore, we would like you to take it easy the rest of the day and evening. You will probably be requested to remain in bed for 2 to 4 hours after the procedure. Check with your nurse before attempting to get up.
  • You will need to keep your leg or arm that was used for the catheter insertion straight for 2-4 hours after the procedure to decrease risk of bleeding at that site.
  • You may shower tomorrow but no tub baths for 2 days.
  • It is important to spend as much time in bed as possible for the one or two days after the procedure to improve blood flow to the liver.
  • Most patients are admitted for at least 23 hours post procedure and can remain in the hospital up to 5 days. Patients are discharged after pain and nausea have subsided.
  • Fatigue is common even after you are home.  It is important to rest and schedule activity with this in mind. Fatigue may last up to 1 month.

 

WOUND / INCISIONAL DEVICE CARE

  • A nurse will frequently check the site in your arm or leg where the catheter was placed. If you notice any swelling or bleeding, call your nurse.
  • The dressing or band aid will be removed the next day.
  • The site should be kept clean with soap and water without vigorous scrubbing.
  • If you had a closure device inserted where the catheter went in, you will receive a booklet on its care.

 

PAIN MANAGEMENT

  • Pain is the most common side effect and it occurs because the blood supply to the treated area is cut off. Pain medication will be available in the hospital and prescriptions for pain medications will be given for home use.
  • Fevers up to 101 degrees are normal and may last for 1-2 weeks after the procedure.
  • Fevers may be safely treated with Tylenol.

 

MEDICATION CHANGES

  • Take all your medications as ordered by your doctor. 
  • If you take blood thinners you may restart them after 24 hours unless otherwise indicated.
  • Discuss any other over the counter use of Aspirin and Ibuprophen products with your doctor before using them

 

POST PROCEDURE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO BE EXPECTED

  • Tenderness at the catheter insertion site.
  • Bruising at the same site.
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue

 

POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE NOTFICATION OF YOUR PHYSICIAN

  • Pain not relieved by pain medication.
  • Fever greater than 101.5 degrees for over 1 week.
  • Redness or pus from the catheter insertion site.
  • New or unusual symptoms.
  • Difficulty or inability to urinate.

 

POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

  • If your pain suddenly changes in degree or character without relief.
  • Temperature over 101.5 continuing after first week and suddenly increases.
  • Hives
  • Shortness of breath not normal for you.
  • Bleeding; if this should begin after you return home, you should lie down. Apply pressure to the site where the catheter was and have someone call your doctor right away.  If you are unable to get a hold of your doctor quickly or you cannot stop the bleeding with pressure, call 911.

 

You are a very important part of your recovery. Please ask your doctor or nurse any questions you may have regarding your discharge instructions

CHEMOEMBOLIZATION

 

You are receiving this information on Chemoembolization as part of your discharge instructions.

 

Chemoembolization is a procedure that delivers cancer treatment directly to a tumor. The liver is the most common part of the body for chemoembolization to be used, although it can be done in other areas. Under x-ray guidance, a small catheter is inserted into an artery in the groin. The catheter’s tip is threaded into the artery in the liver that supplies blood flow to the tumor. Chemotherapy is injected through the catheter into the tumor and mixed with particles that embolize or block the flow of blood to the diseased tissue.

 

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

 

  • You will need to sign consent.
  • You will be on a heart monitor, a blood pressure monitor, and your oxygen level will be monitored with a probe on your finger.
  • The doctor and technologist will be dressed in sterile clothing.
  • During the test you may be given some medicine to help you relax. Discuss any sedation concerns with the doctor before the test begins.
  • You will need to lie very still during the test.
  • The area in your arm or leg that will be used to insert the catheter will be washed and hair clipped.
  • You will get a numbing medicine put in the groin area, so you don’t feel the catheter going into the artery.
  • When the dye is given you may feel a warm, flushed feeling.
  • The person performing the test will watch your flow of blood on a TV monitor.
  • Pictures of your arteries will be taken during the procedure.
  • The doctor will put chemotherapy into the correct artery in your liver through the catheter.
  • Ask your doctor, nurse or technologist any questions you might have or tell them if you are uncomfortable in any way (you’re cold, need to urinate, having pain etc.)
  • The catheter will be removed when the procedure is done. It will be very important to keep pressure on the spot where the catheter was inserted. The technologist will apply the pressure as needed. A closure device to reduce the risk of bleeding will be used if applicable.
  • The test usually takes 1-3 hours.
  • You will have an IV in your arm or hand during and after the procedure until discharge.

 

BENEFITS

  • Clear, detailed, accurate view of the blood vessels.
  • Chemoembolization delivers a very high concentration of chemotherapy directly into the tumor, without exposing the entire body to the effects of those drugs.
  • In addition, the procedure cuts off blood supply to the tumor, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients, and trapping the drugs at the tumor site to enable them to be more effective.
  • Chemoembolization is intended to stop liver tumors from growing or cause them to shrink. The treatment usually can be repeated if the cancer starts to grow again.
  • Other types of therapy (tumor ablation, chemotherapy, radiation) may be used in combination with chemoembolization to control the tumor.
  • Chemoembolization potentially preserves liver function and adds more quality to your life.

 

RISKS

  • Embolization or blocking of the wrong site resulting in loss of blood supply to normal tissue.
  • Infection
  • Allergic reaction to contrast (dye)
  • Bleeding or bruising at the groin site.
  • Reactions to chemotherapy may include nausea, hair loss, a decrease in white blood cells, a decrease in platelets and anemia. Because chemoembolization traps most of the chemotherapy drugs in the liver, these reactions are usually mild.
  • Serious complications from chemoembolization occur in about one in 20 procedures. Most major complications involve either infection in the liver or damage to the liver. Reporting indicates that approximately one in 100 procedures result in death, usually due to liver failure.

 

POST PROCEDURAL DISCHARE INSTRUCTIONS:

DIET

Resume your routine diet as tolerated, starting with ice chips then clear liquids.

Drink lots of fluids over the next 24 hours (unless contraindicated) to flush the dye out of your system.

  • Nausea and loss of appetite are common for two weeks and may last longer.
  • Nausea medicine is available to you per doctor’s orders.

 

ACTIVITY

  • The sedation you received for your procedure is still in your system. Therefore, we would like you to take it easy the rest of the day and evening. You will probably be requested to remain in bed for 2 to 4 hours after the procedure. Check with your nurse before attempting to get up.
  • You will need to keep your leg or arm that was used for the catheter insertion straight for 2-4 hours after the procedure to decrease risk of bleeding at that site.
  • You may shower tomorrow but no tub baths for 2 days.
  • It is important to spend as much time in bed as possible for the one or two days after the procedure to improve blood flow to the liver.
  • Most patients are admitted for at least 23 hours post procedure and can remain in the hospital up to 5 days. Patients are discharged after pain and nausea have subsided.
  • Fatigue is common even after you are home.  It is important to rest and schedule activity with this in mind. Fatigue may last up to 1 month.

 

WOUND / INCISIONAL DEVICE CARE

  • A nurse will frequently check the site in your arm or leg where the catheter was placed. If you notice any swelling or bleeding, call your nurse.
  • The dressing or band aid will be removed the next day.
  • The site should be kept clean with soap and water without vigorous scrubbing.
  • If you had a closure device inserted where the catheter went in, you will receive a booklet on its care.

 

PAIN MANAGEMENT

  • Pain is the most common side effect and it occurs because the blood supply to the treated area is cut off. Pain medication will be available in the hospital and prescriptions for pain medications will be given for home use.
  • Fevers up to 101 degrees are normal and may last for 1-2 weeks after the procedure.
  • Fevers may be safely treated with Tylenol.

 

MEDICATION CHANGES

  • Take all your medications as ordered by your doctor. 
  • If you take blood thinners you may restart them after 24 hours unless otherwise indicated.
  • Discuss any other over the counter use of Aspirin and Ibuprophen products with your doctor before using them

 

POST PROCEDURE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TO BE EXPECTED

  • Tenderness at the catheter insertion site.
  • Bruising at the same site.
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue

 

POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE NOTFICATION OF YOUR PHYSICIAN

  • Pain not relieved by pain medication.
  • Fever greater than 101.5 degrees for over 1 week.
  • Redness or pus from the catheter insertion site.
  • New or unusual symptoms.
  • Difficulty or inability to urinate.

 

POST PROCEDURE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

  • If your pain suddenly changes in degree or character without relief.
  • Temperature over 101.5 continuing after first week and suddenly increases.
  • Hives
  • Shortness of breath not normal for you.
  • Bleeding; if this should begin after you return home, you should lie down. Apply pressure to the site where the catheter was and have someone call your doctor right away.  If you are unable to get a hold of your doctor quickly or you cannot stop the bleeding with pressure, call 911.

 

You are a very important part of your recovery. Please ask your doctor or nurse any questions you may have regarding your discharge instructions

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