Arteriovenous Shunting in Colorectal Liver Metastases
Author Information
Author(s): J.A. Goldberg, J.A.K. Thomson, G. McCurrach, J.H. Anderson, N. Willmott, R.G. Bessent, J.H. McKillop, C.S. McArdle
Primary Institution: University Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow
Hypothesis
The study aims to establish the level of base-line shunting and the effect of a therapeutic quantity of microspheres on shunting.
Conclusion
Arteriovenous shunting in patients with colorectal liver metastases is minimal and is not significantly increased by the administration of therapeutic quantity of microspheres during regional chemotherapy.
Supporting Evidence
- Base-line shunt for 0.5 x 106 microspheres was found to be 2.2 ± 1.8%.
- The percentage shunt of a therapeutic quantity (40 -80 x 106) of microspheres was 3.0 ± 0.8%.
- Median percent shunt was 1.3% at base-line.
- Median shunt after the therapeutic bolus of microspheres was 2.8%.
Takeaway
Doctors wanted to see if giving medicine through the liver would cause too much of it to go to the lungs instead. They found that this doesn't happen much, so it's safe to use this method.
Methodology
The study measured base-line shunting using radio-labelled albumin microspheres in seven patients and compared it to shunting after administering a therapeutic quantity of microspheres.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and may not represent all patients with colorectal liver metastases.
Participant Demographics
Seven patients with advanced colorectal liver metastases.
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