A simplified method for continuous hepatic arterial port-catheter system placement not requiring catheter end-hole occlusion

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of hepatic port-catheter system placement without distal catheter tip occlusion or gastroduodenal artery embolization distal to the catheter tip.

Material and Methods: A port-catheter system was percutaneously implanted in 29 patients (16 men, 13 women; mean age 65.6 years) with unresectable liver cancer. Persistent blood flow through the end hole of the catheter was verified immediately and 1-10 days after catheter placement.

Results: In all cases, percutaneous port-catheter placement was successfully performed. In seven of 29 (24.1%) patients, flow through the end hole of the catheter was verified immediately after the procedure. However, no flow was seen 1-10 days after the procedure.

Conclusion: It is not necessary to occlude the end hole of the catheter tip and embolize the gastroduodenal artery beyond the catheter tip when placing a port-catheter system for repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy.