Minimum Requirements to Safely Establish and Sustain New Hepatic Arterial Infusion Pump Programs: An International Expert Perspective.

Abstract

Hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) pump chemotherapy is an effective therapy for colorectal liver metastases and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. In the setting of recent reports suggesting favorable outcomes in these diseases with HAI, there has been a surge in interest in this treatment worldwide, prompting the opening of many new HAI programs. While significant technical expertise is required for pump implantation, this alone is insufficient to open a safe and sustainable HAI program, and numerous other factors must be considered prior to the first pump implantation. This expert perspective, established using an anonymous web-based survey of experienced multidisciplinary international HAI providers, details the minimum required personnel, expertise, training, and infrastructure to optimize success and sustainability of a safe and effective new HAI program.