Cytoreductive Surgery and Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (HIPEC) by Minimally Invasive Approach, an Initial Experience.

BACKGROUND: The cytoreductive surgery (CRS) associated with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has become the standard treatment in patients with carcinomatosis peritoneal from different origins. The use of a minimally invasive approach for this high complex procedure might be an alternative that provides them less morbidity and faster recovery with similar oncologic outcomes.

METHODS: We describe the initial experience of CRS and HIPEC done via the laparoscopic route in patients with minimal peritoneal metastases in our Unit from March 2016 to January 2018.

RESULTS: A total of eight patients were operated by this minimally invasive approach. The different diagnoses were low-grade pseudomyxoma peritonei (2), benign multicystic mesothelioma (2), primary epithelial ovarian carcinomatosis (2) and locally advanced colon carcinoma T4 (2). The median age was 54 (20-62) years, the median PCI was 3 (2-4), the median operative time was 287 min (240-360), complete cytoreduction CC0 was achieved in all the patients, and no major morbidity was observed. The median length of stay was 4.75 days (4-5). After a median follow-up of 9.5 months, no relapse has been observed.

CONCLUSION: The results suggest that this minimally invasive approach for CRS and HIPEC is feasible and safe in a highly selected group of patients with peritoneal surface malignancies.