catheterdelivered

Catheter-delivered refers to therapies or agents that are introduced to a target site through a catheter, typically a thin, flexible tube inserted into the vascular system or other body compartments. The approach is used across interventional specialties, including interventional radiology, cardiology, neurology, and oncology, to achieve localized treatment while limiting systemic exposure.

Delivery is achieved by percutaneous access, commonly through the femoral or radial artery, with catheters navigated to target vessels or cavities under imaging guidance. Depending on the indication, catheters may deliver drugs, embolic materials, contrast agents, or therapeutic devices directly to the site of interest.

Common applications include catheter-delivered thrombolysis or thrombus aspiration for acute thromboembolic events, catheter-directed chemotherapy or chemoembolization for certain tumors, and targeted embolization to reduce blood supply to lesions. In neurology and cardiology, catheter-directed therapies are used to treat carotid, cerebral, coronary, and peripheral vessels. Some approaches also explore catheter-delivered gene therapies or other biologics in research settings.

Advantages include higher local concentration and rapid action at the target, reduced systemic toxicity, and the ability to treat lesions not easily reachable by noncatheter methods. Risks include vascular injury, infection, thrombosis, non-target embolization, contrast reactions, and catheter-related complications. Outcomes depend on patient factors, technology, and operator experience, and many catheter-delivered therapies require imaging guidance such as fluoroscopy, CT, or MRI.

The term is part of broader endovascular and interventional therapy frameworks that emphasize minimally invasive, image-guided delivery of treatment directly to the problem area.