Volume 5, Issue 3

Objectives The impact of insurance status on oncological outcome in patients undergoing cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) is poorly understood. Methods Retrospective study on 31 patients having undergone 36 CRS-HIPEC at a single institution (safety-net hospital) between 2012 and 2018. Patients were categorized as insured or underinsured. Demographics and perioperative events were compared. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Results A total of 20 patients were underinsured and 11 were insured. There were less gynecologic malignancies in the underinsured (p=0.02). On univariate analysis, factors linked to poor survival included gastrointestinal (p=0.01) and gynecologic malignancies (p=0.046), treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.03), CC1 (p=0.02), abdominal wall resection (p=0.01) and Clavien–Dindo 3-4 (p=0.01). Treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and abdominal wall resections, but not insurance status, were independently associated with OS (p=0.01, p=0.02 respectively). However, at the end of follow-up, six patients were alive in the insured group vs. zero in the underinsured group. Conclusions In this small, exploratory study, there was no statistical difference in OS between insured and underinsured patients after CRS-HIPEC. However, long-term survivors were observed only in the insured group.

Obejectives Optimal cytoreductive surgery (CRS), followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, is a major predictor of oncological outcome in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). It is not clear if a delayed start of adjuvant chemotherapy negatively impacts on the oncological outcome. Methods Prospective registry study on 75 patients treated with CRS and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Adjuvant chemotherapy was started within 42 days in 41 patients (55%), later on in 34 patients (45%). Multivariate analyses of preoperative factors were done on survival outcome. Outcomes were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Results There was no difference in RFS after early introduction (median 35 months) vs. late introduction of chemotherapy (median 32 months), p = 0.17. Median OS in patients with late introduction of chemotherapy was 46 months and was not yet reached in early introduction group. Conclusions In this exploratory study in a small group of women with advanced EOC, starting adjuvant chemotherapy more than 6 weeks after CRS and HIPEC did not deteriorate significantly RFS or OS. Well-designed clinical studies are still needed to evaluate the interplay of HIPEC and the point of time of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in this indication.

Objectives Perception of cytoreductive surgery (CRS), hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), and pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) for treating peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM) differ widely among physicians. Methods This on-site survey performed during a major oncology congress in 2019 evaluated the current opinion, perceptions, knowledge and practice of HIPEC and PIPAC among oncologists in India. Results There were 147 respondents (gynecologists (30%), surgical oncologists and gastrointestinal surgeons (64%), and medical oncologists (6%)). Whereas most respondents considered CRS and HIPEC an appropriate therapeutic option, 25% would not recommend CRS and HIPEC. The main barriers to referral to an expert center were inaccessibility to such a center (37.8%), non-inclusion of CRS and HIPEC in clinical practice guidelines (32.4%), and a high morbidity/mortality (21.6%). Variations were found in the various practice patterns of CRS/HIPEC like eligibility criteria, HIPEC protocols and safety measures. Although PIPAC awareness as a novel therapeutic option was high, only a limited number of centers offered PIPAC, mainly because of non-access to technology and missing training opportunities (76.2%). Conclusions Lack of widespread acceptance, poor accessibility and low utilization presents a significant challenge for HIPEC and PIPAC in India. There is a need to raise the awareness of curative and palliative therapeutic options for PSM. This might be achieved by the creation of expert centers, specialized training curricula and of a new sub-speciality in oncology.

Objectives Pelvic peritonectomy can induce anorectal and urogenital dysfunctions. To reduce this type of complications during the procedure, we propose to use intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). Content Stimulation with a bipolar probe allows the identification of the obturator and ilioinguinal and pudendal nerves. At the end of the cytoreductive surgery, the motor and somatosensory evoked potentials must be evaluated to confirm the preservation of pelvic innervation. Summary The use of IONM during pelvic peritonectomy is technically feasible, and it can help to preserve pelvic nerves. Outlook Obviously, its definitive value remains to be elucidated.

Objectives Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) for peritoneal malignancies are complex surgeries marked with hemodynamic perturbations, temperature fluctuations, blood loss and metabolic disturbances in the intra-operative and post-operative period. In this report, we highlighted perioperative factors which may have led to cardiac arrest in immediate postoperative period and subsequent successful resuscitation in two patients with high volume peritoneal cancers who underwent CRS-HIPEC. Case presentation Both patients had a similar clinical course, characterized by massive blood and fluid loss, metabolic derangement, hemodynamic instability, long duration of surgery, post HIPEC rebound hypothermia and hypokalemia which need to be anticipated. Conclusions We reviewed the literature related to postoperative hypothermia and other major complications after CRS-HIPEC and correlated the available literature with our findings.