Preliminary experience with intraperitoneal catheters in the treatment of ovarian cancer

Twenty-nine patients with ovarian carcinoma were treated with intraperitoneal cisplatin. Insertion of an intraabdominal catheter was performed during second-look laparotomy. Only one serious complication occurred with abdominal pain, ileus and local peritonitis. Otherwise, the major problems were of a technical nature with separation of the plastic tube from the metallic part of the catheter in 3 cases. In 8 of 29 patients intraperitoneal treatment was discontinued mainly due to local problems at the site of the pot. The procedure is otherwise safe and well tolerated by patients.