Complications of indwelling chemotherapy catheters

Martin L. Goldman, Marcia K. Bilbao, Josef Rösch, Charles T. Dotter

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    32 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Fifty consecutive chemotherapeutic infusions for cancer via percutaneously introduced arterial catheters were reviewed to determine the frequency of angiographic and clinical complications related to the indwelling catheter. Fibrin cloaking along the catheter was found in 20 patients studied by pull‐out arteriography and was unassociated with clinical symptoms. Major thrombus formation occurred around the catheter tip in 28% of the infused vessels, all within the hepatic artery. Clinical symptoms developed in only three patients where thrombosis of the hepatic artery had propagated into the celiac axis. Systemic heparinization did not reduce the incidence of thrombus formation but did increase the incidence of mild gastrointestinal bleeding. Several factors may reduce the incidence of complications, such as puncture of a large artery, use of soft, pliable, and small diameter catheters, proper free position of the catheter in the infused vessel, regular angiographic checkups for catheters position, and early evidence of thrombus formation.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)1983-1990
    Number of pages8
    JournalCancer
    Volume36
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Dec 1975

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Oncology
    • Cancer Research

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