Complications in hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy: retrospective comparison of catheter tip placement in the right/left hepatic artery vs. the gastroduodenal artery

Purpose

To compare the complication rates associated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using two different catheter tip locations, the right/left hepatic artery (group 1) and the gastroduodenal artery (group 2).

Methods

Between April 2001 and March 2015, 88 patients (group 1, n?=?36; group 2, n?=?52) with unresectable HCC, underwent HAIC via a transfemorally placed infusion catheter. The incidence of complications related to catheter placement (including hepatic arterial occlusion, catheter dislocation, non-target embolization and port-catheter system infection) as well as catheter patency and patient survival were evaluated.

Results

The technical success rate was 100%. The overall complication rate was 17% (15/88 patients). The specific complications were as follows: hepatic artery occlusion, n?=?1 (group 2, n?=?1), gastroduodenal ulcer, n?=?6 (group 1, n?=?2; group 2, n?=?4); catheter dislocation, n?=?1 (group 2, n?=?1); port-catheter system infection, n?=?3 (group 2, n?=?3); and bleeding at the puncture site, n?=?4 (group 1, n?=?1; group 2, n?=?3).

Conclusions

The complication rates in groups 1 and 2 did not differ to a statistically significant extent.