The use of the implantable chemoinfusion pump in the treatment of hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer
K. P. Ramming and K. O'Toole
Fifty-five chemoinfusion devices have been implanted in patients with
metastasis of colorectal cancer confined to the liver. There were no
episodes of pump malfunction or of catheter clotting. Side effects included
gastric ulcers in 13 patients and duodenal ulcers in four patients,
including one episode of total gastric obstruction. Chemical hepatitis
occurred in 13 patients, sclerosing cholangiolitis in one patient, and
duodenal dismotility requiring gastroenterostomy in one patient. The
response criterion was taken as reduction by at least 50% of the
pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen level; consequently, the response
rate was 88%. Median survival of all patients was 19.2 months from the time
of diagnosis of hepatic metastases to death, as determined by the
Kaplan-Meier method. Median survival from the time of pump implantation to
death was 10.1 months.