Objective To summarize nursing care for adverse reactions of drug-eluting beads transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE） for the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods A total of 172 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing DEB-TACE were enrolled. The adverse reactions were observed and preventive nursing care was provided. Results Pain around the liver region occurred in 171 patients, fever in 51 patients, constipation in 74 patients, nausea and vomiting in 114 patients, and tumor lysis syndrome in 2 patients.One patient who had tumor lysis syndrome died, and the rest 136 cases were discharged after recovery. Conclusion Pain, fever, constipation, nausea and vomiting are common adverse reactions after DEB-TACE procedures, therefore effective measures should be taken to reduce the occurrence of postoperative complications.