What are the complications of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for liver cancer? Complications of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for liver cancer

At present, there are more than 347,000 new cases of liver cancer in China every year. It is the second most deadly malignant tumor after lung cancer, accounting for 19.3% of the total number of cancer deaths each year. Nearly 80% of patients are already in the middle and late stages when they are discovered. In addition to traditional surgical resection and hepatic artery interventional embolization treatment methods, new methods invented in recent years include minimally invasive treatment methods represented by microwave, radiofrequency, argon-helium knife, etc., drug targeted therapy represented by sorafenib, biological immunotherapy, liver transplantation, etc. Among them, the most effective, safest, with the least side effects, the most economical, the simplest operation and the shortest operation time is the cold circulation microwave ablation treatment technology, and ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation has great advantages in the treatment of space-occupying liver or other organs due to its real-time guidance and monitoring, accurate positioning, complete ablation, no radiation, immediate inspection during surgery and repeated multiple times in a short period of time.

Some complications may occur after ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for liver cancer. The most common complications are short-term liver pain and low-grade fever (﹤39℃) lasting less than 3 weeks. Most cases can be relieved without special treatment. Others include nausea, skin burns, pleural effusion, dyspnea, subcapsular hematoma, and small bile duct stenosis. Some scholars call the most common symptoms of low-grade fever and discomfort accompanied by chills, pain, and nausea as post-ablation syndrome. Severe complications are rare, including intraperitoneal bleeding that requires treatment, needle tract implantation metastasis, liver abscess, gastrointestinal perforation, and hemothorax. Very few deaths occur. For example, postoperative multiple organ failure, septic shock, tumor rupture, severe bile duct injury, and liver failure are mostly due to preoperative contraindications.