[Dislocation of an indwelling catheter from digestive organs in arterial infusion chemotherapy]

An indwelling catheter was dislocated into the duodenum during the course of hepatic arterial infusion for multiple metastases of colon cancer to the liver. A possible cause of extravascular dislocation includes an exposure to highly concentrated anticancer due to defective positioning of the catheter side hole and bending of the catheter. A dislocation of the hepatic arterial infusion catheter into the digestive tract is a serious complication and accounts for 10% of all dislocations. Although countermeasures consisting of monitoring progress, laparotic catheter extraction and endoscopic catheter extraction, a monitoring process is selected in nearly all cases. Even though hepatic arterial infusion has established as being effective against liver tumors, there is a possibility of encountering more of these cases in the future along with an increase in the number of cases and a prolongation of treatment that improves prognoses. In the case, a catheter extravascular dislocation has occurred in addition to complications stemming from the dislocation itself. There was also a risk of exacerbation of prognosis resulting from being forced to discontinue the treatment. It is therefore necessary to pay close attention to positioning of the catheter side hole and its immobilization.