Effect of alvimopan on gastrointestinal recovery and length of hospital stay after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testicular cancer.

Objective: Alvimopan use has reduced the length of hospital stay in patients undergoing major abdominal surgeries and radical cystectomy. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testicular cancer may be associated with delayed gastrointestinal recovery prolonging hospital length of stay. We evaluate whether alvimopan is associated with enhanced gastrointestinal recovery and shorter hospital length of stay in men undergoing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testicular cancer.

Materials And Methods: From 2010 to 2016, 29 patients underwent open, transperitoneal bilateral template retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Data for patients who received alvimopan were prospectively collected and compared to a historical cohort of patients who did not receive alvimopan. Primary outcome measures were length of stay and recovery of gastrointestinal function. Descriptive statistics were reported. Time-to-event outcomes were evaluated using cumulative incidence curves and log rank test. Factors associated with length of stay were analyzed for correlation using multiple linear regression.

Results: Of 29 men undergoing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, eight received alvimopan and 21 did not. The two cohorts were well matched, with no significant differences. In the alvimopan cohort compared with those who did not receive alvimopan median time to return of flatus was 2 versus 4 days (=0.0002), and median time to first bowel movement was 2.5 versus 5 days (=0.046), respectively. Median length of stay in the alvimopan cohort was 4 days versus 6 days in those who did not receive alvimopan (=0.074). In adjusted analyses, receipt of alvimopan did not influence length of stay.

Conclusion: Alvimopan may facilitate gastrointestinal recovery after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testicular cancer. Whether this translates into reduced length of stay needs to be determined by randomized controlled trials using larger cohorts.

Level Of Evidence: 3b.