Elevated brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is an early marker for patients at risk for complications after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC).

BACKGROUND: Elevated BNP is associated with adverse cardiac outcomes after noncardiac surgery. We assessed BNP values as markers of perioperative fluid status and their correlation with major/cardiopulmonary (CP) complications following CRS + HIPEC.

METHODS: Fluid balance, BNP levels, and morbidity data were collected for all patients undergoing CRS + HIPEC between 6/2014 and 2/2016.

RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-nine patients underwent CRS + HIPEC for appendiceal adenocarcinoma (n = 99), mesothelioma (n = 16), and colon cancer (n = 14). Less than 10% had CP comorbidities. The median PCI was 14 (range 4-39); 89% underwent CC0/1 resection (n = 115). Median blood loss (EBL) was 497 mL (50-2700). Major complications (Clavien III-V) occurred in 16 (12%), CP in 17 (13%), and major/CP in 24 (18%). Thirty-day mortality occurred in 2 (1.5%). Elevated BNP on POD1 correlated with increased risk of major/CP complications (OR 2.2, P = 0.052). This was most pronounced in the 25 patients receiving cisplatin: for each 100 unit increase in POD1 BNP the OR for major/CP complication was 7.4 versus 1.2 for the remaining patients, P = 0.083. Multivariate analysis identified increased EBL (OR 4.1 P = 0.011) and a trend toward increased BNP on POD1 (OR for each 100 unit increase 2.0, P = 0.10) as risk factors for major/CP complications.

CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative BNP measurement after CRS + HIPEC may guide postoperative fluid resuscitation and facilitate identification of patients at risk for major and/or cardiopulmonary complications.