Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal surface malignancies: A single institution Indian experience.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery followed by hyper- thermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has shown better oncological outcomes in peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM). We assessed the feasibility and perioperative outcomes of this procedure in Indian patients.

Methods: In this prospective observational study from February 2013 to April 2015, we included 56 patients (41 females, 73.2%) with PSM. They had a good performance status, were either treatment-naïve or previously treated by surgery and systemic chemotherapy. They underwent cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC using a hyperthermia pump, with the temperature at 42 °C for 30-90 minutes. The chemotherapy regimen was based on the primary malignancy. Perioperative outcome data were collected and analysed. We also analysed the short-term oncological outcomes.

Results: Our patients included those with peritoneum confined ovarian carcinoma (32, 57.1%), colorectal carcinoma (9, 16.1%), pseudomyxoma peritonei (7, 12.5%), meso- thelioma (2, 3.6%), gastric carcinoma (2, 3.6%) and others (4, 7.1%). The median duration of surgery including HIPEC was 9 hours and the median hospital stay was 12 days. The median time for gastrointestinal recovery was 5 days. One-fifth of patients (11, 19.7%) required an extended stay in the inten- sive care unit. The most common grades 3 and 4 complications were hypocalcaemia 32.1%, hypokalaemia 32.1%, anaemia 21.4% and thrombocytopenia 7.1%. Major morbidity requiring surgical intervention occurred in 8.9% of patients. The 60-day operative mortality was 1.8%. At a median follow-up of 16 months, 7.1% developed peritoneal recurrence, 8.9% had systemic recurrence and 7.1% succumbed to the disease. Patients with platinum-resistant ovarian carcinomas had more peritoneal recurrence (3.6%).

Conclusion: In patients with PSM, surgical cytoreduction and HIPEC is feasible and potentially beneficial. It can be done with low mortality and acceptable morbidity. It requires a dedicated team of surgeons, anaesthetists and intensivists and proper infrastructure.