Delayed erosion of intraperitoneal chemotherapy catheters into the bowel. Report of two cases.

Erosion of a silastic catheter into the small bowel occurred in two patients who previously had received multiple courses of uncomplicated intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy. Although bowel perforation is a recognized complication at the time of Tenckhoff catheter insertion, late erosion of the catheter into the bowel after its use for IP chemotherapy has not been previously reported. Catheter injection with radiographic contrast confirmed the diagnosis, evidence for which included nonspecific clinical findings of intraabdominal infection and pain during chemotherapy infusion.