[Anticancer drug intraperitoneal chemotherapy using T-type reservoir sheet for unresectable gastric cancer]

T-type reservoir sheets (anti-adhesion sheets developed to prevent adhesions + reservoir) were intraperitoneally implanted in 16 patients with unresectable gastric cancer and postoperatively used to suction off ascitic fluid, to prevent cancerous adhesions of the intestines, and to intraperitoneally infuse anticancer drugs with a view to improving QOL and prolonging survival time. The results showed that whereas all of the patients had been class V according to intraoperative cytodiagnosis, postoperatively they were all class I-II and their ascites had either completely or temporarily resolved. Performance status (PS) improved in 14 patients (87.5%), and 14 patients (87.5%) were discharged. According to the Cancer Body Cavity Efficacy Rating Criteria (Japan Society for Cancer Therapy), CR was achieved in 10 cases, PR in 3 cases, NR in 3 cases, and the mean home care rate was 45.4%. Mean survival time to date, February 1997, is 7.8 months, two patients are alive, and the longest survival time has been 22 months. This method facilitates suctioning of ascitic fluid. It prevents irregular adhesions of the intestine, and protects against the development of ileus. It enables repeated intraperitoneal administration of high concentrations of anticancer drugs, uniformly, extensively, safely and easily. It facilitates intraperitoneal cytodiagnosis, ascitic fluid sampling, and monitoring of the efficacy of anticancer agents. The special features of this method are the high percentage of patients residing at home and the ability to administer intraperitoneal infusions of anticancer agents continually and repeatedly on an outpatient basis.