Parecoxib prevents complications in hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving hepatic transarterial chemoembolization: a prospective score-matched cohort study

// Zhong-Guo Zhou 1, * , Jin-Bin Chen 1, * , Hai-Bo Qiu 1, * , Ruo-Jing Wang 2, * , Jian-Cong Chen 1 , Li Xu 1 ,Min-Shan Chen 1 , Yao-Jun Zhang 1 1 Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Southern China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China 2 First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Min-Shan Chen, e-mail: Chenms@sysucc.org.cn Yao-Jun Zhang, e-mail: Zhangyuj@sysucc.org.cn Keywords: parecoxib, hepatocellular carcinoma, transarterial chemoembolization Received: January 08, 2016      Accepted: February 28, 2016      Published: April 02, 2016 ABSTRACT Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) is the palliative treatment of choice for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The 242 patients prospectively enrolled in this study were diagnosed with HCC and received TACE at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center between October 2014 and March 2015. Patients were divided into study and control groups based on whether parecoxib sodium was administered postoperatively. Postoperative pain, body temperature, vomiting, changes in liver function, physical activity level, length of hospital stay, and tumor control were evaluated. Compared to the control group after propensity score matching, the study group presented less severe postoperative fever. The daily maximum temperatures in the study and control groups were 37.39 vs. 37.82°C on postoperative day 1 ( P < 0.001), 37.10 vs. 37.51°C on day 2 ( P < 0.001), and 36.90 vs. 37.41°C on day 3 ( P < 0.001). The study group also exhibited greater physical activity ( P < 0.05) and had shorter hospital stays (7.21 days vs. 7.92 days, P = 0.041). There were no differences in pain scores. Thus administration of parecoxib sodium to HCC patients after TACE effectively relieved fever, promoted postoperative recovery, and shortened the hospital stay.