[Continuous intravenous or intra-arterial administration via a subcutaneous implantable infusion chamber. Preliminary clinical experiences with particular reference to intra-arterial chemotherapy].

An infusion chamber was implanted subcutaneously in 18 patients for intravenous systemic treatment and in 20 for intra-arterial treatment of the liver. Intravenous catheters were introduced via the cephalic vein, intra-arterial ones via the gastroduodenal artery, after exclusion of extrahepatic metastases. Six manageable complications were observed during a total implantation time of 102 months for i.v. treatment and usage over 500 days: three temporary occlusions; one infection; two extravasations. The intra-arterial chemotherapy, largely for hepatic metastases of breast carcinoma, was undertaken according to a modified FAM schema (fluorouracil, adriamycin, mitomycin C): It achieved a high response rate with two full and eleven partial remissions. Complications were rare, except for 4 temporary occlusions. Systemic side effects were almost completely absent, local toxicity was low. One problem was the fixation of the needle which connects to the infusion chamber. This was true for both intravenous and intra-arterial treatment.