Withdrawal of port-catheter system for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy implanted with fixed catheter tip method.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a method to withdraw port-catheter systems implanted by the fixed catheter tip method.
Materials and Methods: Retrospective review was conducted of 14 cases of unresectable advanced liver cancer in which it was necessary to attempt 15 withdrawals of percutaneously placed implantable port-catheter systems. Reasons for withdrawal, withdrawal success, complications, and subsequent treatment of patient were evaluated.
Results: In 14 of the 15 procedures (93.3%), the port-catheter system was successfully retrieved. Because continuation of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy was necessary in 10 procedures, a second implantation was performed after withdrawal of the initial catheter. Only one complication occurred, in which the indwelling catheter was broken in the aorta during withdrawal.
Conclusion: When retrieval of a port-catheter system implanted with the fixed catheter tip method is necessary, withdrawal can be accomplished safely with high frequency.