AN IN-VITRO FLOW MODEL TO STUDY STREAMING DURING PELVIC INTRAARTERIALDRUG INFUSIONS

Regional delivery of suitable drugs by intra-arterial infusion may off er a therapeutic advantage, High concentrations in the tumor are sough t with reduced systemic toxicity, Adequate mixing of drug solutions wi th perfusing blood is essential to provide uniform distribution of dru g to tumor-bearing tissue distal to the infusion site, Using a glass m odel of the iliofemoral and pelvic arteries, we have demonstrated that a streaming phenomenon occurs, Laminar ''streamers'' of slowly infuse d drug solution originate at the catheter tip and proceed nonuniformly into distal arterial branches, The intensity of streaming and the pat tern of distribution are highly sensitive to catheter tip placement ac id quite unpredictable. The consequence of regional therapy under stre aming conditions is severe maldistribution of drug in the infused tiss ues with potentially high levels delivered to normal tissues and simul taneous subtherapeutic levels delivered to tumor, Our in vitro model F an be used to test appropriate infusion techniques that enhance mixing such as pulsed infusions and novel catheter designs.