Diagnosis and treatment of hemothorax following local ablation in patients with primary liver cancer

To investigate the diagnosis and treatment methods for hemothorax resulting from local ablation in patients with primary liver cancer. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent hemothorax after local ablation for liver cancer at the Center for Hepatology and Oncology Interventional Therapy, Beijing You’an Hospital, from January 2022 to December 2023. The study focused on the diagnosis and treatment of postoperative hemothorax, evaluating the effectiveness and safety of these methods. Seven patients developed postoperative hemothorax after local ablation for liver cancer. Of these, 2 patients achieved hemostasis through symptomatic conservative treatment, while 5 required emergency transcatheter arterial embolization due to active bleeding. All patients recovered and were discharged without severe complications. Hemothorax is a rare but potentially serious complication following liver cancer ablation. Early diagnosis and timely, effective hemostatic intervention are crucial for a favorable prognosis. Interventional embolization is a safe and effective treatment for active hemothorax post-ablation.