Management, Complications, and Evaluation of Intra-arterial Infusions

Abstract

There are several elements which are unique to regional intra-arterial chemotherapy as compared to conventional systemic intravenous chemotherapy. One consideration is the need for a drug delivery system capable of infusing selected small arteries. Recent interest in intra-arterial chemotherapy has stemmed indirectly, in large part, from recent advances in drug delivery systems and monitoring, rather than from the discovery of new agents that are specifically more active when given intra-arterially⁽¹⁾. Another unique aspect is that the toxicities of intra-arterial chemotherapy are generally different from the usual dose-limiting toxicities of systemic intravenous chemotherapy. A major nidus for toxicity is the intra-arterial drug delivery system itself. In addition, as one would anticipate from a regionally focused treatment, the major toxicities of intra-arterial treatment are regional in nature. This chapter will briefly review the major unique considerations with intra-arterial chemotherapy as commonly practiced.