Use of N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate in Implantation of a Port-Catheter System for Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy with the Fixed-Catheter-Tip Method: Is It Necessary?

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) in addition to microcoils in the percutaneous implantation of a port-catheter system for repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with the fixed-catheter-tip method. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We retrospectively studied 166 consecutive patients with unresectable advanced liver cancer for whom a port-catheter system was percutaneously implanted with its tip fixed at the gastroduodenal artery with microcoils. In 107 patients, NBCA was also used for catheter tip fixation. We compared this group with a control cohort of 59 patients who did not receive NBCA. Outcomes, including rate of success in implantation, details of embolic agents for fixation, and occurrence of complications related to catheter placement that would prohibit continuation of chemotherapy if not corrected, were compared. RESULTS. In all, port-catheter placement was successful. However, 38 complications occurred in 32 patients. Catheter dislocation occurred in nine. Hepatic artery obstruction or severe stenosis was seen in 10. Recanalization of a once-embolized gastroduodenal artery was found in two patients. The rate of dislocation did not differ significantly between patients in whom NBCA was and those in whom it was not used. However, hepatic artery obstruction appeared at a significantly higher rate, and recanalization of a gastroduodenal artery at a significantly lower rate, in patients in whom the catheter tip was fixed with NBCA. CONCLUSION. The use of NBCA correlated with a higher rate of hepatic artery obstruction. The use of NBCA should not always be required in port-catheter implantation with the fixed-catheter-tip method.