Radiological-guided liver-port implantation: Evaluation, technical approach, interventional procedure and follow up.

Purpose: Description of evaluation, technical approach, interventional proc edure and follow up of radiological-guided liver-port implantation. Method: Percutaneous implantation of a liver-port system was performed in twelve p atients through a transfemoral approach and in one patient via the superfic ial epigastric artery after surgical exploration. In four patients we used port systems which are accessible via ventral puncture. Strecker-port syste ms were implanted in the remaining nine patients. Results: The liver-port i mplantation was technically successful in all cases. No dislocation of the distal catheter tip, no thrombosis of the hepatic or splenic artery, no lea kage near connections of the catheters or connections of catheter and port system and no thrombosis of the femoral arteries were observed. Correction of a kink in the catheter was per-formed in one patient. Another patient sh owed prolonged healing of the subcutaneous pocket. Conclusions: Interventio nal liver-port implantation is a safe procedure and leads to good clinical results. From the view of the radiologist the Strecker-system shows a good performance. The approach via the superficial epigastric artery demands exc ellent interdisciplinary cooperation.