[Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with side-hole catheter for primary and metastatic liver, bile duct, and pancreas cancers].

Dislodgement and obstruction of catheter inserted into the artery are great hazards for the hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy. To prevent dislodgement, a new Anthron-coated catheter with a side hole was applied for the treatment of 32 patients with primary and metastatic liver cancer, bile duct cancer and pancreas cancer. The tip of the catheter was advanced deep into the gastroduodenal artery, proper or right hepatic artery, or splenic artery. Anti-cancer drugs were administered through the proximal side hole for targeting cancer. If necessary, the gastroduodenal artery was occluded with a metal coil. No dislodgement or obstruction of the catheter was noticed in the 32 patients thus treated. The new Anthron-coated catheter with a side hole proved to be useful for prevention of catheter dislodgement and accomplishment of long-term intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy.