Effect of Esketamine on Abdominal Pain During TACE-HAIC in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Effect of Esketamine on Abdominal Pain During TACE-HAIC in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Prospective Study TACE-HAIC (Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Combined With Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy )

Previous studies have confirmed that limb pain caused by oxaliplatin chemotherapy is related to spinal cord central sensitization - induced hyperalgesia through oxaliplatin activating spinal cord NMDA receptor(N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor). The investigators speculate that this may be the same as the mechanism of severe abdominal pain caused by HAIC(Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy) during oxaliplatin infusion. The analgesic effect of Esketamine is mainly related to its inhibition of NMDA receptor in spinal cord. Therefore, this study hypothesized that Esketamine can inhibit the sensitization of spinal cord center by inhibiting NMDA receptor, so as to alleviate severe abdominal pain during HAIC perfusion, and reduce abdominal pain caused by ischemia and inflammation by TACE(transcatheter arterial chemoembolization) by improving organ perfusion and anti-inflammatory effect, Therefore, it is expected that Esketamine can better alleviate acute severe abdominal pain caused by TACE-HAIC (transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy )treatment than sufentanil, decrease the dosage of opioids, and reduce the incidence and degree of chronic abdominal pain after treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participate in this study and sign informed consent
• Voluntarily receive postoperative intravenous controlled analgesia
• Patients receiving TACE-HAIC treatment
• HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma)patients with primary liver cancer BCLC(Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer) stage B and C, liver function A
• Age 18 to 80

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who were unable to cooperate or refused to participate in the trial
• Pregnant women
• Patients with sensory abnormalities such as diabetes neuropathy
• Patients with or having a history of serious mental disorders
• Patients with poorly controlled or untreated hypertension (arterial hypertension, resting systolic / diastolic blood pressure more than 180/100mg)
• Patients with unstable angina pectoris or myocardial infarction within 6 months or congestive heart failure
• Patients with intracranial hypertension or glaucoma
• Patients with hyperthyroidism without treatment or insufficient treatment
• Patients with severe respiratory dysfunction
• Allergy or existing contraindication to chemotherapeutic drugs, opioids or ketamine drugs
• Can not follow with the study procedure