High-quality results of cytoreductive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy perfusion for carcinomatosis at a low volume institution.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Maximal cytoreductive surgery (CS) with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy perfusion (HIPEC) for peritoneal carcinomatosis can improve oncologic outcomes, but is associated with significant morbidity. Whether low-volume experience with CS/HIPEC results in acceptable outcomes is unknown. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing CS/HIPEC by a single surgeon. Experience was divided into first versus second 50 cases, and patient characteristics, operative details, and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Ninety patients underwent 100 CS/HIPEC procedures (mean age 57 years, 68% female). -Compared to the initial experience, the second 50 cases included more high grade tumors (68 vs. 52%) and greater disease burden (PCI 14.2 vs. 12.4). Operative times remained unchanged and mean blood loss decreased (978 vs. 684 ml). Hospital stay (mean 18.1 vs. 12.6 days), major complications (24 vs. 16%), and perioperative mortality (8 vs. 2%) declined. Overall median survival was 18 months and was longer with low grade tumors (26 vs. 16 months, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Patients experienced reduced EBL, fewer major complications, and shorter hospital stay, despite having higher disease burden and higher grade tumors. This suggests that even low-volume experience with CS/HIPEC can lead to a trend in reduction of adverse perioperative events with acceptable oncologic outcomes.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: a 2-institution analysis of outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 300 cases of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava (IVC) have been reported in the literature to date. In this study, we combined the experience from 2 institutions to provide additional clinical outcomes data. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis from 1984 to 2009 that included 17 patients treated between the 2 institutions. Clinicopathologic data, surgical and adjuvant therapy, and survival outcomes were obtained. RESULTS: The median age of patients in the study was 48 years. The tumor location was infrarenal in 8 patients, juxtarenal in 6, and suprahepatic in 2 patients; 7 patients had high-grade tumors. All patients underwent complete resection; the IVC was repaired primarily in 5 patients, ligated in 5, and reconstructed with a prosthetic tube graft in 7 patients. There was no perioperative mortality; 6 patients had complications. Median follow-up was 49 months; median survival had not been reached when this paper was written. The 5-year overall and disease -free survival were 56% and 37%, respectively. Of the 17 patients, 10 experienced disease recurrence and underwent numerous treatment modalities for these recurrences. CONCLUSION: Aggressive resection of primary leiomyosarcoma of the IVC can be performed safely and result in long-term survival, irrespective of IVC management. Despite high recurrence rates, no consensus yet exists regarding adjuvant treatment.