Long-term infusion in cancer chemotherapy with the Groshong catheter via the inferior vena cava

Aims and background: Vascular access through a vein draining into the superior vena cava is commonly used for long-term infusion of drugs in cancer chemotherapy; prolonged cannulation of the inferior vena cava is generally considered as having an excessively high complication rate. Methods: Prolonged cisplatin infusion via the inferior vena cava by means of a Groshong catheter was evaluated in 20 consecutive patients with thoracic malignancies showing evidence of superior vena cava infiltration or obstruction. Results: We achieved 1,291 catheter days for our survey with a mean duration of vascular access of 64.5 days per patient and a mean duration of infusion time of 40 days. There were 2 complications, a catheter obstruction after a 7-day rest period and an ileo-femoral thrombosis 6 days after catheter placement. Conclusions: Our experience compared favourably with the results obtained by long-term central venous access via the supraumbilical route, and demonstrated the reliability and safety of this approach in cases where the superior vena cava cannulation is technically difficult or impossible.