[The value of a Tenckhoff catheter in ovarian cancer]

It is generally difficult to treat patients with ovarian cancer. A Tenckhoff catheter was implanted in eighteen patients for intraperitoneal chemotherapy and drainage of ascites. Sixteen cases including 5 recurrent cases were treated with anticancer drug. It could not be used in two cases by bowel adhesion, so immediately catheters were removed. CDDP (100-150 mg/body) with or without Etoposide (180-300 mg/body) in 2 liters of saline was administered via Tenckhoff catheter over 30 minutes with a dwell time of 4 hours. We have studied the kinetics of CDDP and Etoposide in ascites and blood after intraperitoneal chemotherapy. High concentrations of free-CDDP and Etoposide were reached for 4 hours in the ascites but concentrations in the blood varied. These results showed obviously high values and direct effects on the tumor cells in the abdominal cavity and the peritoneal clearance depended on the severity of carcinomatous peritonitis in each case. Twelve cases showed decrease, but 4 cases increase of ascites. Five recurrent cases and one patient of stage IV died. Seven cases are outpatients and the disease free duration of their ranges are from 1 to 24 months. Three patients are now under treatment. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy elicited only mild nausea, myelosuppression and no significant changes of renal function. No patients had signs of catheter infection and peritonitis. These findings suggested that a Tenckhoff catheter was valuable to treat and manage ovarian cancer patients with little side effect.