Catheterization complications of intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma.

BACKGROUND

Intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) is a growing method of therapy for retinoblastoma (Rb). There is an absence of data to support the safety of catheterization with intra-arterial infusion in this pediatric population

OBJECTIVE

To focus on the non-ocular catheter/procedural-related complications that our practice has experienced in order to lay a foundation for practices interested in performing these procedures and hopefully, to help prevent them from occurring.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of the patient population with Rb treated in our center from May 2006 through May 2024. Every procedure performed was reviewed for non-ocular catheterization-related complications. This review included complications of access, the distal vessel (thrombosis, stenosis, and dissection), and non-ocular infarcts.

RESULTS

There were 2281 vascular access events, and 2681 distal catheterization procedures were performed for IAC infusion on 623 pediatric patients with Rb. Mean age of the population was 18.9 months. There were 31 complications directly related to catheterization: 7 (0.3%) related to femoral artery access and 24 (0.9%) were distal vessel injuries. Two (0.07% of total catheterizations) of the distal vessel injuries were asymptomatic cerebral infarcts diagnosed on follow-up MRI.

CONCLUSION

Catheterization with IAC can be performed safely in this young pediatric population. There is a trend for fewer complications when using the smallest catheter system possible for procedures.