Purpose
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma may experience poor sleep quality following Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE). This study aimed to identify factors influencing sleep quality in patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization.
Methods
The study participants comprised 49 patients who underwent TACE and 45 nurses who cared for them. Patient data were collected through a face-to-face survey before and after TACE, as well as a review of electronic medical records. Data from nurses were collected using an online survey.
Results
The mean sleep quality score of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing TACE was 5.04±1.76. Sleep quality was negatively correlated with the number of antipyretics used (r=-.31, p=.029), anxiety (r=-.40, p=.004), postembolization syndrome (r=-.30, p=.034), and fatigue (r=-.63, p<.001), and positively correlated with the nurse’s perception of patient’s fatigue (r=.45, p=.001). In multiple regression analysis, fatigue (β=-.47, p=.001) and the number of antipyretics used (β=-.33, p=.005) explained 43.5% of the variance in patients’ sleep quality.
Conclusion
The sleep quality of patients undergoing TACE was found to be relatively low. Fatigue affects sleep quality, with more fatigued patients exhibiting poorer sleep quality. Therefore, nurses must pay attention to patient fatigue and anxiety and provide more comfortable nursing care.

Purpose
After Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE), patients may experience Post-Embolization Syndrome (PES), which is characterized by abdominal pain, fever, and nausea/vomiting. Various risk factors, including demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data, have been reported. This study aimed to identify sex-specific risk predictors of PES following TACE.
Methods
This retrospective study included 1,495 patients who underwent TACE and were discharged from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2021. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of the patients undergoing TACE were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, the χ² test, the independent t-test (or Mann-Whitney U test), Spearman correlation analysis, and logistic regression were used.
Results
The incidence of PES was higher in female (43.9%) than in male (37.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis Alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) levels as the only independent predictor of PES in female patients (Exp [B]=1.01, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=1.00~1.01). The risk factors of PES in male patients were a tumor >5 cm in diameter (Exp [B]=2.51, 95% CI=1.46~4.32), the amount of lipiodol (Exp [B]=1.27, 95% CI=1.01~1.60), C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels (Exp [B]=1.11, 95% CI=1.02~1.21), ALT level (Exp [B]=1.00, 95% CI=1.00-1.01), lymphocyte levels (Exp [B]=0.98, 95% CI=0.96~0.99), and right posterior section (S6-S7) (Exp [B]=0.71, 95% CI=0.55-0.92).
Conclusion
Oncology nurses should be aware of sex-specific differences in PES risk and monitor clinical, laboratory, and radiological data to evaluate PES in female and male after TACE. The results of this study will serve as basic data for establishing a clinical decision-supporting system.