Selective Hepatic Intra-arterial Chemotherapy
Christopher D. Anderson, Ravi S. Chari
Hepatic intra-arterial infusion pump (HAIP) placement provides hepatic specific continuous infusion of chemotherapeutic agents. The chemotherapeutic agents selected for use with HAIP should exhibit a high degree of first pass kinetics in order to minimize systemic toxicity. Agents used include cisplatin, fluodeoxyuridine (FUDR), mitomycin C, and Adriamycin.
Indications and Contraindications
Indications
■Unresectable hepatic metastatic colorectal carcinoma
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Liver specific adjuvant chemotherapy following resection of colorectal metastases
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Use in hepatocellular carcinoma and other metastatic carcinomas can be considered under certain circumstances
Contraindications
■Portal hypertension (portal pressure >12 mm Hg)
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Known extrahepatic malignancy
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Poor liver reserve (e.g., Child B or C cirrhosis)
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Severe coagulopathy (e.g. platelets <30000 ml)
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Active hepatitis
Preoperative Studies
History: Specific for hepatic function (e.g., alcohol use, hepatitis)
Clinical evaluation: To rule out obvious extrahepatic malignancy (lymph node exam) and underlying liver dysfunction (ascites, nutrition status, signs of portal hypertension)
Triple phase CT, For definition of tumor and arterial anatomy CT angiogram (CTA)
or MRI of abdomen:
Chest CT: To rule out pulmonary metastases, except in the case of colorectal carcinoma
FDG-PET: In cases of metastatic colorectal carcinoma
Hepatic arteriogram: Not mandatory if HAIP is to be placed via laparotomy, but it may decrease operative time
Mandatory if HAIP to be placed laparoscopically, and CTA
or MRA not performed
Procedure
STEP 1 Incision and exposure
A right subcostal approach is used. The falciform ligament is divided and the porta
hepatis is exposed further by gentle superior retraction of the liver. Cholecystectomy is
performed to eliminate the postoperative complication of chemical cholecystitis induced
by infusional chemotherapy. The gastrohepatic ligament is divided with care to avoid
injury to a replaced left hepatic artery (if present). All duodenal and antral vessels must
be ligated to eliminate the possibility of reflux of chemotherapy into these regions as this
may lead to chemical duodenitis or gastritis. The common hepatic, gastroduodenal, and
proper hepatic arteries are identified by dissection of the hepatoduodenal ligament and
marked with vessel loops.
STEP 2 Determination of arterial anatomy
At this point it is imperative to accurately determine the hepatic arterial anatomy if no preoperative arteriogram was performed. The more common variants in hepatic arterial anatomy are shown in the figure: (A-1) the common hepatic artery may originate from the celiac trunk (typical). (A-2) A replaced right hepatic artery (RRHA) may arise directly from the superior mesenteric artery. (A-3) A replaced left hepatic artery (RLHA) may arise directly from the left gastric artery. (A-4) Common origin of the right hepatic artery, left hepatic artery and gastroduodenal artery. This is commonly referred to as the
“trifurcation anatomy.”
STEP 3 Placement of the infusion pump in subcutaneous pocket
The pump pocket is created in the right lower quadrant by making a transverse incision
at the level of the umbilicus and dissecting to the anterior rectus sheath and the external
oblique fascia. The pocket is extended laterally to near the iliac crest and inferiorly to
just above the inguinal ligament. Some surgeons prefer that the pocket be developed
through the initial subcostal incision, while others prefer it not to communicate with
the laparotomy incision. The pump is primed with heparinized saline and proper pump
function should be established before anchoring it to the fascia with 2-0 nonabsorbable
braided suture. The arterial catheter is passed into the pocket by direct puncture.
STEP 4 Placement of the arterial catheter
Cannulation typically should be performed with a single catheter placed in the gastro- duodenal artery (GDA). The origin of the GDA from the common hepatic artery is iden- tified, and the proper hepatic artery from the GDA to the liver is skeletonized. Any branches leading to intestinal viscera are individually ligated and divided. This step prevents visceral misperfusion injuries. The GDA is further skeletonized for approxi- mately 2cm distal to its origin and then ligated near the pancreas. A noncrushing vascular clamp is used to occlude the GDA at its origin. A transverse arteriotomy is made in the GDA approximately 1.5cm from its origin. The beaded infusion catheter is cut such that its port does not enter the common hepatic artery, but that at least one bead is in the GDA. The catheter tip should not enter the common hepatic artery to lessen the risk of catheter associated common hepatic artery thrombosis. The GDA is secured around the catheter using 4-0 nonabsorbable suture both proximally and distally to the catheter bead. This prevents advancement or retraction of the catheter.
To insure proper hepatic perfusion, 1–5cc of fluorescence is bolused into the catheter,
and the liver is observed under a Woods lamp. Alternatively, 1–5cc of methylene blue
will also visually confirm adequate perfusion; this is a useful method when placing
HAIP laparoscopically.
STEP 5 Dealing with atypical arterial anatomy
Following a hepatic resection, management of aberrant arterial anatomy is contingent upon the arterial supply of the remnant hepatic parenchyma. However, without a liver resection, the most common arterial variant encountered is the trifurcation anatomy.
This may be approached by ligation of the GDA and directly cannulating the common hepatic artery well proximal to the bifurcation of the right and left hepatic arteries. The common hepatic artery is skeletonized and occluded proximally and distally with noncrushing vascular clamps. A longitudinal arteriotomy is performed and the catheter is inserted with the bead remaining outside the arteriotomy (A-1). A pursestring suture (6-0 nonabsorbable) is used to close the arteriotomy around the catheter and secure the catheter in place (A-2).
Replaced hepatic arteries may undergo isolation and clamping. If clamping is toler-
ated, the replaced vessel may be ligated and the liver can be perfused via the typical
catheter placement. If clamping is not tolerated, a replaced right hepatic artery may be
approached by placing one catheter in the GDA to perfuse the left hepatic and a second
catheter directly into the replaced right hepatic artery as described for the trifurcation
anatomy. A similar approach may be used for a replaced left hepatic artery. If two
catheters are placed, it is important not to connect them to a single pump via a Y
connector because of differential resistance in each vessel.
Postoperative Studies
Some centers routinely perform a nuclear medicine study of the HAIP on postoperative day3–5 to rule out extrahepatic perfusion. This consists of a sulfur colloid outline of the liver and then bolus injection of technetium micro-albumin aggregate (MAA) via the pump bolus port. The two images are superimposed to insure adequate hepatic perfusion and to rule out extrahepatic visceral perfusion.
Complications
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Early:
– Visceral misperfusion
– Arterial injury and postoperative bleeding – Hematoma or seroma of the pump pocket
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Late:
– Biliary stricture
– Hepatic artery thrombosis
– Occlusion or displacement of the catheter – Pseudoaneurysm
– Pump pocket infection
Tricks of the Senior Surgeon
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Prime the pump and test its function early in the case. Be familiar with the specifics of the various pumps and the needles used to bolus/prime and fill the pump.
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When accessory vessels are known to exist or are discovered at the time of laparotomy, determination of their contribution to hepatic perfusion can be gauged by clamping and observing the parenchyma for color change: this should be performed early in the case so there is adequate time to determine the consequences of ligation versus the need for a second pump system.
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