Intraperitoneal therapy administered through a Groshong catheter

This report describes a new device for delivery of intraperitoneal therapy. From October 1989 through March 1991, 27 externally accessed Groshong (Bard Access Systems, UT) catheters were placed transabdominally into 24 patients with presumed epithelial ovarian cancer at the conclusion of primary or second-look laparotomy. Total duration of catheter use was 81 months (range, 1-62 weeks). Fifty-seven cycles of intraperitoneal therapy were administered through 18 catheters (range, 1-11). Nine catheters were removed without being used after patients randomized off intraperitoneal treatment arms or were ineligible for intraperitoneal protocols. There were no complications associated with catheter placement or removal. None of the catheters became obstructed or dislodged while in place. There were no cases of infectious peritonitis, although one patient developed an exit-site skin infection. Surgery is not required to remove the Groshong catheter which fosters empiric placement of the device at the time of laparotomy in all patients potentially eligible for intraperitoneal therapy. The device-related infection rate of 4.2 per 100 patients is similar to that described using other implanted devices. Catheter maintenance is easy and patient acceptance is good. The Groshong catheter is a safe, reliable, and acceptable means of delivering intraperitoneal therapy.