Risk factors for postoperative delayed gastric emptying in ovarian cancer treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) has shown promising results in improving the survival of ovarian cancer patients. Although the safety profiles of CRS-HIPEC exist, more attention should be paid to gastrointestinal complications, as the procedure involves a considerable proportion of bowel resection and anastomosis.

Aim: To identify the risk factors for delayed gastric emptying in ovarian cancer treated with CRS-HIPEC.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we retrospectively analyzed 77 patients admitted between March 2014 and April 2018 with advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer treated with CRS-HIPEC in Beijing Shijitan Hospital of Capital Medical University. Risk factors for delayed gastric emptying were analyzed using univariate analysis. All of the statistically significant variables in the univariate analysis were entered into the multivariable logistic regression model to determine factors independently associated with delayed gastric emptying.

Results: Among the 77 included patients, 36.4% (28/77) had delayed gastric emptying after CRS-HIPEC. The median age and body mass index of all patients were 59 years and 22.83 kg/m, respectively. Preoperative chemotherapy was administered in 55 patients (71%). Sixty-two patients (81%) had a history of at least one previous pelvic surgery. The median operation time and intraoperative hemorrhage volume were 630 min and 600 mL, respectively. Omentectomy was performed in 32 cases of primary ovarian cancer and 24 cases of recurrence. The median peritoneal cancer index was 16. The risk factors for delayed gastric emptying from the univariate analysis were body mass index < 23 kg/m ( = 5.059, = 0.025), history of pelvic surgery ( = 4.498, = 0.034), history of chemotherapy ( = 4.334, = 0.037), operation time ≥ 7 h ( = 4.827, = 0.047), and intraoperative hemorrhage ≥ 800 mL ( = 7.112, = 0.008). Multivariable analysis revealed that age ≥ 70 years (HR = 7.127; 95%CI 1.122-45.264; = 0.037) and intraoperative hemorrhage ≥ 800 mL (HR = 3.416; 95%CI 1.067-10.939; = 0.039) were independently associated with postoperative delayed gastric emptying after CRS-HIPEC.

Conclusion: Postoperative gastrointestinal management, including prolonged nasogastric intubation, should be promoted for patients over 70 years or those with intraoperative bleeding exceeding 800 mL.