Morbidity and quality of life following cytoreduction and HIPEC

Feasibility and outcomes of cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC for peritoneal surface malignancies in low- and middle-income countries: a single-center experience of 232 cases

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has recently emerged as a viable management option for peritoneal surface malignancy (PSM). CRS and HIPEC is a complex, multidisciplinary and resource-intensive surgical procedure. It has a steep learning curve and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The expertise is mostly limited to few dedicated high-volume centers located in developed countries. We present a single institutional experience of 232 cases of CRS and HIPEC performed at a tertiary care cancer center in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC).

METHODS

A multidisciplinary PSM program was initiated in 2015 at a high-volume public-sector tertiary care cancer center in North India catering largely to patients belonging to low- and middle-income groups. Perioperative protocols were developed, and a prospective structured database was created to capture data. All patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC between January 2015 and December 2020 were identified, and the data was retrospectively analyzed for clinical spectrum, surgical details, and perioperative morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

Two hundred and thirty-two patients underwent CRS and HIPEC during the study period. Epithelial ovarian carcinoma (56.5%) was the most common malignancy treated, followed by pseudomyxoma peritonei (18.5%), colorectal carcinoma (13.4%), and malignant mesothelioma (5.6%). Optimal CRS could be achieved in 94.4% of patients. Cisplatin and mitomycin were the most common drugs used for HIPEC. A total of 28.0% of patients had morbidity including deep vein thrombosis, subacute intestinal obstruction, sepsis, burst abdomen, lymphocele, urinoma, acute renal failure, and enterocutaneous fistula. The overall treatment-related mortality was 3.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of the current study indicate that it is feasible to establish a successful CRS and HIPEC program for PSM in government-funded hospitals in LMIC facing resource constraints. The most common indication for CRS and HIPEC were carcinoma of the ovary followed by pseudomyxoma peritonei and colorectal carcinoma. Overall morbidity and mortality in the current series are comparable to global standards, reported from high-income countries. A protocol-based multidisciplinary team approach, optimal patient selection, and surgical expertise can help achieve optimal outcomes in government-funded hospitals in LMIC.

Systematic Review of Factors Affecting Quality of Life After Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that, overall, quality of life (QoL) decreases within the first 3-6 months after cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC), returning to baseline levels by 6-12 months. This systematic review aims to evaluate the factors affecting QoL after CRS + HIPEC within 12 months of surgery.

METHODS

Electronic databases were investigated searching for articles reporting QoL with validated questionnaires up to September 2019. Risk of bias was assessed with the methodological index for non-randomized studies tool. The primary outcomes were short-term (< 6 months after surgery) and medium-term (6-12 months after surgery) determinants of QoL after CRS + HIPEC. Secondary outcomes were QoL and reported symptoms over time.

RESULTS

We included 14 studies that used 12 different questionnaires. The reported data were collected prospectively or retrospectively for 1556 patients (dropout < 50% in four studies). Overall, studies showed diminished QoL within 3 months after surgery and a recovery to baseline or greater by 12 months. QoL was negatively influenced by higher age, female sex, prolonged operation time, extensive disease, residual disease, adjuvant chemotherapy, complications, stoma placement, and recurrent disease. QoL results were comparable between studies, with dropout rates above and below 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

QoL returns to baseline levels within 12 months after CRS + HIPEC provided the disease does not recur, and this recovery process is influenced by several factors.

CRS and HIPEC for PMP-Use of the LC-CUSUM to Determine the Number of Procedures Required to Attain a Minimal Level of Proficiency in Delivering the Combined Modality Treatment

The learning curve for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) which peaks at 90 procedures for the surgeon may take several years to reach. The cumulative summation (CUSUM) test of the learning curve (LC-CUSUM) was used to assess the safety of the procedure (minimal level of proficiency for the surgeon) in terms of morbidity, mortality, and completeness of cytoreduction and early oncological failure before the peak of the learning curve had been reached. The limits for h0 and h1 were set based on the results of large series of such cases published before. From 2011 to 2016, 77 patients with PMP underwent CRS and HIPEC. The mean peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 28 and 75% of the patients had a CC-0/1 resection. The grade 3-4 morbidity was 42.6% and the mortality was 5.2%. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 62.3% and the 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 71%. The LC-CUSUM analysis showed that for in-hospital mortality, acceptable limits are reached after the 57th case, after the 38th case for the grade 3-4 morbidity and CC-2/3 resections both and after the 70th case for early oncological failure. The number of cases required to attain a minimal level of proficiency for each prognostic variable is different. Using the CUSUM test, surgeons can analyze their performance and determine the areas in which they need to improve before the peak of the learning curve is reached. These outcomes reflect the performance of the multidisciplinary team and not the surgeon alone.

Cytoreductive procedures-strategies to reduce postoperative morbidity and management of surgical complications with special emphasis on anastomotic leaks

Cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for the therapy of peritoneal carcinomatosis are associated with substantial morbidity and acceptable mortality. Patient selection, learning curve, patient warming, and reduced blood loss are the main factors to decrease morbidity. Morbidity is mostly associated with bowl fistulas and anastomotic leakages. Depending on the site of leaks they may be managed conservatively or by reoperation. For standardization of study reports on morbidity and mortality the CTCAE classification is recommended.