Long-term infusion in cancer chemotherapy with the Groshong catheter via the inferior vena cava.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular access through a vein draining into the superior vena cava is commonly used for long-term infusion of drugs inr cancer chemotherapy; prolonged cannulation of the inferior vena cava is generally considered as having an excessively high complication rate.


METHODS
Prolonged cisplatin infusion via the inferior vena cava by means of a Groshong catheter was evaluated in 20 consecutive patients with thoracic malignancies showing evidence of superior vena cava infiltration or obstruction.


RESULTS
We achieved 1,291 catheter days for our survey with a mean duration of vascular access of 64.5 days per patient and a mean duration of infusion time of 40 days. There were 2 complications, a catheter obstruction after a 7-day rest period and an ileo-femoral thrombosis 6 days after catheter placement.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience compared favourably with the results obtained by long-term central venous access via the supraumbilical route, and demonstrated the reliability and safety of this approach in cases where the superior vena cava cannulation is technically difficult or impossible.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy.
L
L
Tavecchio
A V
AV
Bedini
R
R
Lanocita
G L
GL
Patelli
I
I
Donati
G
G
Ravasi
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents