WHAT TO EXPECT ON
TARE TREATMENT DAY

TARE treatment day follows the same access route as the mapping session — catheter via the femoral or radial artery to the hepatic arteries — but the primary difference is what is injected: Y-90 microspheres instead of MAA tracer particles. The procedure is performed in an interventional radiology suite with fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance and requires conscious sedation rather than general anaesthesia.

“Most patients are surprised by how straightforward TARE treatment day is — they expect to feel much worse than they do.”

• Conscious Sedation — Not General Anaesthesia

  TARE is performed under conscious sedation — a combination of intravenous sedative and pain-relieving medication that keeps you comfortable, relaxed, and drowsy without requiring intubation or a ventilator. Most patients have no memory of the procedure and feel no significant discomfort during it.

• Radiation Safety — No Isolation Required

  Y-90 is a pure beta emitter — it does not produce gamma radiation that can affect people nearby. You will not be isolated after the procedure. Simple precautions are advised for the first few days (avoid prolonged close contact with pregnant women and young children), but you can return home the same day and live normally.

A realistic, detailed walkthrough of what happens from arrival at the hospital to discharge — based on standard Y-90 interventional oncology practice.

1. 1

   Arrival and Admission

   You arrive at the hospital fasting (nothing to eat from midnight; clear fluids may be allowed until 2–4 hours before depending on your centre's protocol). The admissions team completes paperwork, and a nurse establishes an intravenous cannula in your arm for sedation, fluids, and medications.

2. 2

   Pre-Procedure Assessment

   The interventional radiologist and/or anaesthesiologist visits to review your notes, confirm the treatment plan, and answer any last-minute questions. Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation are monitored. Any current medications are reviewed.

3. 3

   Transfer to Angiography Suite

   You are wheeled on a bed or walk to the angiography suite — a large room with an X-ray machine, fluoroscopy screen, and monitoring equipment. The procedure table is narrow. Electrodes for ECG monitoring are placed and oxygen is given via nasal prongs.

4. 4

   Conscious Sedation and Local Anaesthesia

   Sedation medication (typically midazolam and fentanyl or equivalent) is administered through your IV cannula. Local anaesthetic is injected into the femoral groin or radial wrist puncture site. You become drowsy and relaxed within minutes — most patients have minimal recall of the procedure.

5. 5

   Catheter Placement and Arteriogram

   A small sheath is inserted into the artery and a catheter is advanced under fluoroscopic guidance to the hepatic artery. A brief angiogram (contrast dye injection) confirms the catheter position and hepatic blood supply to the tumour, consistent with the mapping session findings.

6. 6

   Y-90 Microsphere Injection

   Once catheter position is confirmed, the Y-90 microspheres are injected slowly through the catheter over approximately 10–20 minutes under continuous fluoroscopic monitoring. The injection is performed in a controlled radiation environment — the interventionalist uses shielding and remote delivery protocols. You feel nothing during the injection itself.

7. 7

   Catheter Removal and Haemostasis

   After injection, the catheter and sheath are removed. Haemostasis at the arterial puncture site is achieved with manual pressure (femoral: 5–15 minutes; radial: compression device for 2 hours). You must remain flat (femoral) or with wrist elevated (radial) for the haemostasis period.

8. 8

   Transfer to Nuclear Medicine — Post-Treatment Imaging

   Once haemostasis is achieved and you are comfortable, you are transferred (by wheelchair or bed) to the nuclear medicine department for post-treatment Bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT or Y-90 PET/CT imaging. This scan confirms where the microspheres distributed in the liver and detects any significant non-target deposition.

9. 9

   Recovery and Discharge

   After imaging, you return to the recovery bay. Vital signs, pain, and nausea are monitored. Most patients are discharged home 1–2 hours after post-treatment imaging. You must have a companion to drive you — no driving for 24 hours due to sedation. Mild fatigue and low-grade fever are expected that evening.

A practical reference for patients and families — what is normal, what requires monitoring, and what should prompt contact with the clinical team in the first 7 days after treatment.

The most useful quantitative reference points for patients planning their TARE treatment day.

• 4–6 hrsTypical total hospital time from admission to dischargeIncluding admission, procedure, haemostasis, post-treatment imaging, recovery, and discharge — most patients are home by mid-afternoon.
• 1–2 hrsDuration of the Y-90 procedure itself (catheter in to catheter out)Faster than most patients expect — the majority of time on treatment day is waiting: haemostasis, recovery, and imaging.
• 24–72 hrsDuration of typical post-TARE fatigue and low-grade feverThe most common side effects of TARE resolve within 3 days in most patients — planning a rest day or two after treatment is sensible.

Continue exploring TARE — from radiation safety after treatment to complications management and the complete TARE guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About TARE Treatment Day