Oncological outcomes and hospitalization cost of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) open and closed abdomen techniques: Results from two French expert centers.

BACKGROUND: Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) associated with CC0 excision is performed using either an open (OPEN_HIPEC) or closed abdominal technique (CLOSED_HIPEC). However, little data is available on the costs of this treatment, as there is no code for HIPEC in the French Classification of Medical Acts. Oncological outcomes and the mean cost of hospitalization were compared. METHODS: Between 2017 and 2021, 144 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (all etiologies) were included (OPEN_HIPEC, n = 70; CLOSED_HIPEC, n = 74) in this retrospective two-center study. Morbi-mortality, overall survival (OS), recurrence-free-survival (RFS) and mean cost of hospitalization were compared. RESULTS: The median OS and RFS were 71.3 months [63-71.5] and 26.8 months [20-35.3] respectively, and were similar for both techniques; and after stratification by histology. Multivariate analysis adjusted on PCI score of OS identified mitomycin as a protective factor (HR = 0.31 [0.10-0.90], p = 0.032) and ASA score>2 (HR = 2.32 [1.32- 4.06], p = 0.003) and number of resection (HR = 1.21 [1.06-1.39], p = 0.006) as a risk factors of RFS. Complication rates at day 30 were similar between OPEN and CLOSED_HIPEC, 31 (44.3 %) vs 42 (56.8 %); p = 0.135. OPEN_HIPEC had more severe complications (11 (35.5 %) vs 6 (14.3 %); p = 0.034). The mean cost of hospitalization was estimated as €15,627 for OPEN_HIPEC and €14,211 for CLOSED_HIPEC for a mean length-of-stay of 12.7 and 16.7 days respectively. The mean amount received by the hospital per hospitalization was estimated at €16,399 and €15,536 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: OS and RFS were similar for open and closed HIPEC. Severe complications at day 30 were more frequent in OPEN_HIPEC group. The amount received by hospital for both HIPEC techniques is sufficient.

Hospitalization cost of Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC).

INTRODUCTION: Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a new surgical technique for the treatment of unresectable peritoneal carcinomatosis. Very little data is available on the costs of this treatment in France as there is currently no code for PIPAC in the French Common Classification of Medical Acts (CCAM). Our objective was to estimate the mean cost of hospitalization for PIPAC in two French public teaching hospitals. METHODS: The mean cost of hospitalization was estimated from the mean fixed-rate remuneration paid to the hospital and the mean additional costs of treatment paid by the hospital. At discharge a patient's hospitalization is classified into a diagnosis related group, which determines the fixed-rate remuneration paid to the hospital (obtained from the national hospitals database - PMSI). Costs of medical devices and drug treatments specific to PIPAC, not covered by the fixed-rate remuneration, were obtained from the hospital pharmacies. RESULTS: Between July 2016 and November 2021, 205 PIPAC procedures were performed on 79 patients (mean procedures per patient = 2.6). Mean operating room occupancy was 165 min. The mean fixed-rate remuneration received by the hospitals per PIPAC hospitalization was €4031. The actual mean cost per hospitalization was €6562 for a mean length-of-stay of 3.3 days. Thus, each PIPAC hospitalization cost the hospital €2531 on average. CONCLUSION: The current reimbursement of PIPAC treatment by the national health system is insufficient and represents only 61% of the real cost. The creation of a new fixed-rate remuneration for PIPAC taking into account this cost differential is necessary.

Assessment of postoperative pain after pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) in the treatment of peritoneal metastasis.

PURPOSE: Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a new surgical technique, for the treatment of initially unresectable peritoneal metastasis (PM). Our objective was to assess postoperative pain and morbidity. METHODS: Between July 2016 and September 2020, data from 100 consecutive PIPAC procedures with oxaliplatin (PIPAC Ox) or doxorubicin-cisplatin (PIPAC C/D) in 49 patients with PM (all etiologies) were analyzed. Pain was self-assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) of 0-10. RESULTS: The median PIPAC procedures per patient were 2 [1-3]. Patients indicated greatest pain at 4 pm on the day of the procedure (D0) and on postoperative D1 at 8 am and 4 pm. Postprocedural moderate-to-severe pain (VAS 4-10) was more frequent with PIPAC Ox than with PIPAC C/D, respectively 14 (36.8%) vs 7 (13.5%); p = 0.010. Hospitalization was longer for patients with moderate-to-severe pain than for others (median 4 days [3-7] vs 3 days [2-4], p = 0.004). Multivariate analysis identified oxaliplatin as a factor associated with greater pain (OR [95% CI], 2.95 [1.10-7.89]. Opiate administration was similar after PIPAC Ox and PIPAC C/D procedures, p = 0.477. CONCLUSION: PIPAC was well-tolerated, and pain was well-controlled in the majority of patients. Pain was greatest at 4 pm on D0 and 8 am and 4 pm on D1. PIPAC Ox is associated with greater pain than PIPAC C/D, independently of opiate treatment. Moderate-to-severe pain was associated with longer hospital stays.

Assessment of haemorrhoidal artery network using Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation for haemorrhoids and pathogenesis implications.

BACKGROUND: Some authors, either with anatomical studies or Doppler laser flowmetric investigations have shown the blood flow to the posterior midline of the anus to be potentially deficient. This relative local ischaemia might explain pathogenesis of anal fissure, which is often located posteriorly. The aim of this study was to record the exact position of the distal branches of the superior rectal artery during Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation-rectoanal repair (HAL-RAR) procedures with special reference to posterior distribution of the arteries. METHODS: All consecutive patients with symptomatic haemorrhoids who were treated with the HAL-RAR procedure between February 2008 and February 2014 in a single institution were included in the study. Number and position of Doppler-guided ligations were prospectively collected. Pearson's chi-squared test was used to compare artery locations. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients (75 women) with symptomatic haemorrhoids were included in the study. Median age was 53 years (range 23-83). A median of 10 ligations were placed per patient (range 3-18). A significantly lower number of cumulative arterial ligations was recorded in the posterior position (88 ligations overall, P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The number of distal branches of the superior rectal artery that have been localized by the Doppler-guided HAL-RAR technique is lower at the posterior midline than in the other segments of the lower rectum. This is another evidence of the vascular deficiency at the posterior pole of the anal canal that might explain the pathogenesis of the anal fissure.