What is an HAI pump?
A hepatic arterial infusion pump is an implanted device about the size of a hockey puck. It is designed to give chemo at a constant rate to the liver. This method allows for higher doses of chemo to the liver. Exposure of normal cells to chemo is reduced. This also helps to limit some of the side effects. How does the HAI pump work? The HAI pump has two chambers, an inner chamber also called the drug chamber and the sealed outer chamber that contains an inert gas. The gas is warmed by the temperature of the body. This causes the gas to expand and increase the pressure on the drug chamber. This pressure causes the medicine to flow out of the drug chamber. It then flows through a filter, out of the pump via a small tube, and to the liver. There are no batteries in the pump. How is the HAI pump placed? The HAI pump is placed during surgery. The implant is performed under general anesthesia. An incision is made under the rib cage for placement of the pump catheter. A second incision is mad
