[Functioning of implantable catheters of intraperitoneal chemotherapy].

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy with a totally implantable catheter was performed in 42 patients with advanced ovarian cancer who received 178 courses of chemotherapy administered in 2 l of solution. Major complication was inflow obstruction due to fibrosis around the catheter observed in 10 patients, 23.8% of the cases. Other complications were: leakage 3 (7.1%), pain 3 (7.2%), infection 3 (7.1%) and rectal perforation 1 (2.4%). Overall, these complications occurred in 15 patients (35.7%) and were the cause of treatment interruption in 7 (16.7%). Outflow obstruction which occurred in 23 patients (54.8%), did not create discomfort and could not be considered as a complication. Despite the problems, intraperitoneal chemotherapy with a totally implantable catheter appeared feasible in at least 80% of the patients.