Complications from hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy were analyzed in 27 cases with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer from December 1994 to April 2002 in our department. The method used to place the catheter was laparotomy (LP) in 11 patients, intervention radiology (IVR) in 16 patients. Complications resulting in interruption of therapy occurred in 7 (26%) patients, and the IVR method was associated with a lower rate of complications than the LP method. The complications with the LP method were 3 (11%) cases of hepatic arterial occlusion, and 2 (7.4%) cases of catheter tip dislocation. The best indwelling route for the catheter thus seems to be the IVR method. The IVR method is our first choice for all patients now.