Clinical usefulness of reservoir system with a coaxial catheter

We have developed a new implantable catheter and port system (reservoir) with a 2.9 Fr coaxial catheter. This study was undertaken to evaluate the initial results of the new reservoir system. Fifty-three patients with liver neoplasms underwent implantation of this reservoir owing to tortuousity, angulation, and stenosis of the hepatic arteries, and received repeated arterial infusion chemotherapy. Implantation was technically successful in all patients. Hepatic arterial occlusion occurred at rates of 13.7% at six months and 35.3% at one year. There were no major complications apart from port infection in two patients. This reservoir with a 2.9 Fr catheter expands the indications of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy.