Repeat cytoreductive surgery with or without intraperitoneal chemotherapy for recurrent epithelial appendiceal neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: With recurrence rates after primary cytoreductive surgery (CRS) in excess of 50 per cent, repeat CRS is being performed increasingly, but survival outcomes have not been reported widely. This study examined the outcomes following repeat CRS for appendiceal cancer with peritoneal surface malignancy (PSM), and evaluated its feasibility and safety. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of patients who had surgery between 1996 and 2018 were analysed. Patients who underwent a single CRS procedure with or without heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) were compared with those who had multiple procedures with or without HIPEC. Perioperative morbidity and survival outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: Some 462 patients were reviewed, 102 of whom had repeat procedures. For high-grade tumours, patients who had a single CRS procedure had significantly reduced overall survival (OS) compared with those who had repeat CRS (55·6 versus 90·7 months respectively; P = 0·016). For low-grade tumours, there was no difference in OS (P = 0·153). When patients who had a single procedure were compared with those who had multiple procedures, there was no significant difference in major morbidity (P = 0·441) or in-hospital mortality (P = 0·080). For multiple procedures, no differences were found in major morbidity (P = 0·262) or in-hospital mortality (P = 0·502) when the first procedure was compared with the second. For low-grade cancers, the peritoneal carcinomatosis index was a significant prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio (HR) 1·11, 95 per cent c.i. 1·05 to 1·17; P < 0·001), whereas for high-grade cancers repeat CRS (HR 0·57, 0·33 to 0·95; P = 0·033), complete cytoreduction score (HR 1·55, 1·01 to 2·40; P = 0·046) and presence of signet ring cells (HR 2·77, 1·78 to 4·30; P < 0·001) were all significant indicators of long-term survival. CONCLUSION: In selected patients presenting with PSM from epithelial appendiceal neoplasms, repeat CRS performed in high-volume centres could provide survival benefits.

ANTECEDENTES: En países de bajos y medianos ingresos (low- and middle-income countries, LMIC) hay que desarrollar estrategias de futuro para incrementar la disponibilidad de equipos quirúrgicos, adquisición, capacitación, uso, mantenimiento y complicaciones relacionadas con las unidades electroquirúrgicas (electrosurgical unit, ESU) y los equipos de laparoscopia. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una encuesta entre los cirujanos que asistieron a la reunión anual del Colegio de Cirujanos de África Oriental, Central y Meridional (College Of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa, COSECSA) en diciembre de 2017 y a la reunión anual de la Sociedad Quirúrgica de Kenia (Surgical Society of Kenya, SSK) en marzo de 2018. Se encuestaron también a los técnicos de equipos biomédicos (Biomedical Equipment Technicians, BMET) y se recopilaron los registros de mantenimiento en Kenia entre febrero y marzo de 2018. RESULTADOS: Participaron 80 sujetos, 59 cirujanos de 11 países africanos y 21 BMET de Kenia. Se recopilaron 36 registros de mantenimiento. Todos los cirujanos de COSECSA y SSK disponían de ESU, pero menos de la mitad (49%) disponían de equipos de laparoscopia. Como principales problemas se detectaron la reutilización de accesorios desechables en las ESU y las dificultades para disponer de CO2. Más de las tres cuartas partes (78%) de los cirujanos contaban con equipos de mantenimiento para las ESU, pero solo el 59% disponía de mantenimiento para los equipos de laparoscopia en su centro. CONCLUSIÓN: A pesar de la disponibilidad de equipos quirúrgicos, en estos LMIC se detectaron serias dificultades en su mantenimiento, hecho que limita la implementación de la cirugía abierta y laparoscópica.

Percutaneous lung ablation of pulmonary recurrence may improve survival in selected patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for colorectal cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

PURPOSE: To analyze the outcomes of patients developing pulmonary metastases (PM) following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and perioperative intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (IPC) for colorectal cancer (CRC) with peritoneal carcinomatosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing CRS/IPC for CRC from 1996 to 2016 was performed. Lung-specific disease-free and patient overall survival was analyzed. Patients undergoing percutaneous lung ablative therapy (PLAT) for PM were compared to patients receiving systemic chemotherapy alone. RESULTS: 273 patients underwent CRS/IPC for CRC. Of these, 61 (22%) developed PM. Median time to development of PM was 8 months (range 0-52 months) and 41 patients (67%) had metachronous lesions. Twenty-one PM patients underwent PLAT, either by radio-frequency or micro-wave ablation, for an average of 3 lesions (range 1-12) and 13 (62%) had bilobar disease. The most common post-interventional complication was the development of pneumothorax (71%). Overall survival following development of PM was 18 months and higher in patients undergoing PLAT compared to those treated with systemic chemotherapy (26 vs. 14 months, p = 0.03). In eight cases (38%) local tumor recurrence developed post-PLAT. A peritoneal carcinomatosis index >10 (HR 3.48, 95% CI 1.69-7.19), presence of liver metastases (HR 2.49, 95% CI 1.24-5.03) and PLAT (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.20-0.93) were identified as significant predictors of overall survival following diagnosis of PM. CONCLUSION: PM develop in approximately a fourth of patients undergoing CRS/IPC for CRC. Of these, about 1/3 may be eligible for PLAT. PLAT is a valuable treatment option providing good local control and potentially prolongation of overall survival.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) Methodology, Drugs and Bidirectional Chemotherapy.

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) combined have been recognized as standard of care for treatment of a subset of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). The aim of CRS is to eliminate all macroscopic disease through a series of visceral resections followed by targeting any residual microscopic disease with intraperitoneal chemotherapy, exposing the peritoneal surfaces to a high concentration of chemotherapy with a lower systemic toxicity. Different regimes of intraperitoneal chemotherapy include HIPEC, early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) and bidirectional chemotherapy. The efficacy and modality of treatment with intraperitoneal chemotherapy is dependent on multiple factors including the chosen cytotoxic agent and its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. There is no standardized methodology for intraperitoneal chemotherapy administration. This review will discuss the pharmacological principles of the various intraperitoneal chemotherapy techniques.

Laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for refractory malignant ascites in patients unsuitable for cytoreductive surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant ascites (MA) is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity of patients with intraperitoneal dissemination of their disease and is associated with a short life expectancy. The most common clinical feature is a progressive increase of abdominal distention resulting in pain, discomfort, anorexia and dyspnoea. Currently, no treatment is established standard of care due to limited efficacy or considerable toxicity. The objective was to examine the efficacy of laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the palliation of refractory MA in patients who were unsuitable for cytoreductive surgery. METHODS: From May 2009 to June 2015, 12 patients with MA due to their peritoneal malignancy were treated with laparoscopic HIPEC. The time between operation and repeat paracentesis, in-hospital data, and the proportion of patients that did not require repeat paracentesis was analyzed. RESULTS: One patient (8%) was admitted to ICU for 1 day. The mean operating time and hospital stay was 149.3 min (range 79-185) and 4.6 days (range 2-11) respectively. Neither high-grade morbidity nor mortality was observed. The median OS was 57 days. In our experience, a complete and definitive disappearance of MA was observed in 83% of patients. Two patients (17%) developed recurrent MA 124 days and 283 days post-HIPEC. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic HIPEC is a beneficial treatment for the management and palliation of refractory MA and results in an excellent clinical and radiological resolution in patients with a complete resolution observed in selected patients.

Repeat cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for recurrent diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

INTRODUCTION: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has shown to improve survival outcomes for patients with diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of prospectively collected data of 44 consecutive patients with DMPM who underwent CRS and HIPEC by the same surgical team at St George Hospital in Sydney, Australia. A total of 58 operations were performed. Clinical data were divided according to the number of operation and HIPEC the patient had undergone (Group 1 = initial CRS and HIPEC; Group 2 = 2nd CRS and HIPEC; Group 3 included 3rd CRS and HIPEC; Group 4 = 4th CRS and HIPEC). A significant difference was defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in mortality and morbidity results among the four groups. The median survival for those who only had one operation was 22 months (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0-47.2), whereas the median survival for those who had a second operation was 62 months (95% CI = 22.9-101.1). However, such a difference did not translate into a statistical significance (p = 0.141). CONCLUSION: We report an encouraging median survival of 62 months in patients who had recurrence of disease and had repeat CRS and HIPEC with similar morbidity and mortality with the initial operation. Due to the learning curve of this technique, patients with recurrent mesothelioma should be referred to specialised tertiary care centres for evaluation. Selected patients may experience prolonged survival after repeat CRS and HIPEC.

Case of intraperitoneal sepsis secondary to rupture of the appendix on the background of pseudomyxoma peritonei.

INTRODUCTION: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is characterised by gelatinous ascites and pools of mucin associated with neoplastic mucinous epithelium within the peritoneal cavity. It can rarely present as acute intraperitoneal sepsis, requiring urgent medical attention. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 59-year old male was referred to our centre in February 2014 following a diagnostic laparotomy, which showed jelly-like material with occasional epithelial cells. He was listed for peritonectomy in a month's time at our centre. Three weeks later, he was admitted urgently to our hospital due to generalised abdominal pain and watery diarrhoea. Examination at admission was unremarkable. On the following day, he became haemodynamically unstable and was suspected to have intraperitoneal sepsis due to infected PMP. At emergency laparotomy, we found gross intraperitoneal sepsis and did extensive debulking of tumour, appendectomy and extensive division of adhesions. Another laparotomy was done 24 h later for washout. He was discharged three weeks after. DISCUSSION: Although we have done 780 peritonectomy procedures, this was the first patient with this presentation of widerspread intraperitoneal sepsis. Continuous mucous production of appendiceal adenoma can lead to appendiceal rupture. The appendix may decompress by perforation and then reseal. However, one episode of appendiceal rupture can cause bacterial contamination of PMP, leading to sepsis. CONCLUSION: Intraperitoneal sepsis secondary to appendiceal rupture is rare. Hence surgeons may face an emergency of intraperitoneal sepsis during waiting period of planned CRS or as a primary presentation. With combined therapy of CRS and PIC, the prognosis of mucinous appendiceal adenoma is excellent.

Repeat cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for recurrent colorectal peritoneal metastases: yes or no?

PURPOSE: To clarify the role of repeat CRS for recurrent colorectal carcinoma (CRC) through: (i) Systematic review of the literature (ii) Analysis of survival outcomes in a prospective cohort. METHODS: (i) Pubmed and MEDLINE from 1980 to July 2013 searched using terms: colorectal carcinoma, peritonectomy, cytoreductive surgery, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), redo, repeat, and iterative. (ii) Kaplan-Meier Survival analysis of consecutive patients undergoing repeat CRS at St George Hospital between Jan 2000 and July 2013. RESULTS: (i) The search strategy yielded 309 articles, 5 meeting inclusion criteria, reporting on 91 patients. Median overall survival from first CRS ranged from 39 to 57.6 months with 3-yr survival of 50%, and 5-year survival of 30%. Median survival from second CRS was 20-months with 1-yr survivals of 72% and 66% and 2-year survivals of 50% and 44%. (ii) Repeat CRS performed on 18 patients found median survival from first CRS was 59 months, with 1, 3, and 5-year survival of 100%, 52% and 26% respectively. Median survival from repeat CRS was 22.6 months with 1, 2, and 3-year survival of 94%, 48% and 12% respectively. CONCLUSION: The current data on repeat CRS in CRC is relatively immature and more data is required before drawing clear conclusions. Patient selection should be on a case by case basis conducted through a MDT process with emphasis on surrogate markers for favourable outcomes.