Effect of caerulein on abdominal pain following transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization in malignant liver cancer patients.

The severity of pain occurring in the right hypochondrium after transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization carried out in the treatment of malignant hepatic tumors was compared between a caerulein-treated group and a non-caerulein-treated group. The caerulein-treated group and the non-treated group each comprised nine patients Gelfoam powder was used as an occlusive agent. Even though there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups, the caerulein-treated group tended to demonstrate milder pain in the right hypochondricus, less incidence of tenderness and needed fewer administrations of analgesic than did the non-treated group. None of the three patients showing cystic artery contraction after the caerulein administration developed right hypochondricus pain or tenderness, or required the administration of analgesic. It was concluded that caerulein is useful in relieving right hypochondricus pain occurring after transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization.