Repeated dearterialization of hepatic tumors with an implantable occluder

A new implantable device for repeated hepatic dearterialization was evaluated in 13 patients with tumors of the liver. Eleven patients had colorectal secondaries and also received cyclic intraperitoneal infusion of 5-fluorouracil. Two patients had primary hepatocellular cancer (HCC). Four patients had a variant arterial supply. The hepatic artery was occluded repeatedly for 1 hour twice daily for 1 to 17 months (mean, 8.5 months). A complete transient occlusion was obtained in all but three patients, in whom minor collaterals were missed at the initial operation. Collaterals developed in two patients during therapy. Leakage from the balloon occurred in two patients after 5 and 12 months. Two patients developed thrombosis of the hepatic artery during therapy due to the cuff being placed too tightly around the vessel. A complete remission was demonstrated in one patient with HCC, a partial response in three patients (one HCC and two metastatic), stable disease in two patients, and progression in five patients. Median survival for colorectal lesions was 15 months (range, 2 to 23 months) from start of the occlusions. Four of nine patients developed calcifications of their lesions during therapy. One patient with HCC was alive and free of disease 18 months after the start of the occlusions. Both patients with HCC had an obstructed portal vein which may have contributed to the favorable outcome. The occluder was uniformly accepted by the patients who were able to do their occlusions at home.