Intra-arterial Chemotherapy
This procedure allows for direct infusion of chemotherapy agents into an artery. This enables the doctors to more precisely pinpoint the area to be treated, deliver higher doses and concentrations of the drugs, and decrease exposure to the rest of the organs of the body. This is a definite advantage in many circumstances; such as brain tumors where the blood-brain barrier may prevent many drugs from reaching concentrations that would kill tumor cells.
Your doctor may use the insertion of a catheter to deliver these drugs. Which means, there are possible complications that you need to consider. If the tumor being treated is in the brain, the procedure used to insert the catheter will require anesthesia, drugs to prevent seizures during or after the procedure, and blood-thinners during the procedure to prevent stroke.
Make sure that you thoroughly discuss the procedure and any possible complications with your doctor. Ask your doctor how many of these procedures he/she has performed.