Enhanced recovery after surgery in cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: national survey of peri-operative practice by Indian society of peritoneal surface malignancies.

Objectives: The Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program is designed to achieve faster recovery by maintaining pre-operative organ function and reducing stress response following surgery. A two part ERAS guidelines specific for Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) was recently published with intent of extending the benefit to patients with peritoneal surface malignancies. This survey was performed to examine clinicians' knowledge, practice and obstacles about ERAS implementation in patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC. Methods: Requests to participate in survey of ERAS practices were sent to 238 members of Indian Society of Peritoneal Surface malignancies (ISPSM) via email. They were requested to answer a 37-item questionnaire on elements of preoperative (n=7), intraoperative (n=10) and postoperative (n=11) practices. It also queried demographic information and individual attitudes to ERAS. Results: Data from 164 respondents were analysed. 27.4 % were aware of the formal ERAS protocol for CRS and HIPEC. 88.4 % of respondents reported implementing ERAS practices for CRS and HIPEC either, completely (20.7 %) or partially (67.7 %). The adherence to the protocol among the respondents were as follows: pre operative (55.5-97.6 %), intra operative (32.6-84.8 %) and post operative (25.6-89 %). While most respondents considered implementation of ERAS for CRS and HIPEC in the present format, 34.1 % felt certain aspects of perioperative practice have potential for improvement. The main barriers to implementation were difficulty in adhering to all elements (65.2 %), insufficient evidence to apply in clinical practice (32.4 %), safety concerns (50.6 %) and administrative issues (47.6 %). Conclusions: Majority agreed the implementation of ERAS guidelines is beneficial but are followed by HIPEC centres partially. Efforts are required to overcome barriers like improving certain aspects of perioperative practice to increase the adherence, confirming the benefit and safety of protocol with level I evidence and solving administrative issues by setting up dedicated multi-disciplinary ERAS teams.

Practice patterns, attitudes, and knowledge among clinicians regarding hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy: a national survey by Indian society of peritoneal surface malignancies (ISPSM).

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.