Catherization-associated complications of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer

Aim: To assess the catheterization-associated complications during intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPCT) for advanced gastric cancer. Methods: From 1998 to 2002, 80 patients with advanced gastric cancer received a total of 320 courses of IPCT using a large bore central venous catheter and associated complications were analyzed. Results: Catheterization-associated complications occurred in 11 of the 80 patients (13.8%), including abdominal pain caused by catheter in 2 cases (0.63%), insertion failure in 2 cases (0.63%), bowel perforation in 1 case (0.31%) and abdominal pain during chemotherapy in 6 cases (1.88%). No serious complications required surgical intervention. Conclusion: IPCT using central venous catheters can be performed safely and simply without severe associated complications.