Use of an implantable catheter system for intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer

To check the efficiency of intraperitoneal chemotherapy of ovarian carcinomas, 15 patients were treated with instillations of mitoxantrone or cisplatinum. An implantable catheter system was used to access the abdominal cavity. Local therapy proved to be without any effect when large tumor masses were treated. Patients with small tumor residues after surgery did not benefit either, partly because of extraperitoneal progress of the disease. Patients without evidence of disease proved to be stable. Side effects of the therapy were usually mild compared with those of systemic chemotherapy. Access to the peritoneal cavity with the implantable catheter proved to be safe and reliable.