The feasibility and safety of the brachial artery approach in the treatment of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Compared to hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) treatment through the femoral artery (TFA), the brachial artery (TBA) is more flexible and easier for patients to accept. However, the feasibility of TBA has not been studied yet. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of HAIC via the TBA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 63 patients with primary liver cancer who were treated with HAIC via TBA. In this study, a total of 163 HAIC procedures were performed via the left brachial artery pathway, and each patient underwent an average of 2.59 procedures. One patient received 5 treatments, 18 patients received 4 treatments, 15 patients received 3 treatments, 12 patients received 2 treatments, and 17 patients received 1 treatment. The main evaluation indicators were the technical success rate and complication rate. RESULTS: The main technical success rate was 99.4% (162/163). No patient required conversion to the femoral artery (TFA) access. All the complications were minor and occurred in 11 patients (6.75%). Subcutaneous ecchymosis occurred in 3 (1.84%) patients, arterial thrombosis in 2 patients (1.23%), and catheter displacement in 6 patients (3.68%). No serious complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: TBA pathway is feasible and safe for HAIC treatment of liver cancer patients. More research is needed in the future to confirm whether TBA is superior to other pathways.