Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis is a common evolution of many abdominal and pelvic malignancies. Over the last decade novel therapeutic approaches have emerged combining cytoreductive surgery with perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Aim of our study was to assess frequency, sites, and organisms of postoperative infections in this surgery and to evaluate associated risk factors and clinical outcome.
Methods: Retrospective study of postoperative infection in 30 patients undergoing combined cytoreductive surgery and hypertermic intraoperative chemotherapy in an oncologic surgery in Rome, between June 2001 and December 2004.
Results: Twenty-nine postoperative infections were recorded in 11 patients (36.7%; 2.6 infections per patient), including 13 surgical site infections, 8 clinical sepsis, 6 bloodstream infections, and 2 pneumonias. At multivariate analysis, total peritonectomy was found as independent variable associated to postoperative infection. Mortality rates were 36.4% and 5% among patients with and without postoperative infections, respectively (P = 0.04). Four of the 5 patients with invasive candidosis died.
Conclusions: Peritonectomy procedures have an high risk of postoperative infections, prolonged hospital stay, and high morbidity and mortality. The increasing role of this surgery for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis should strengthen the need for a careful evaluation of possible risk factors for postoperative infections, including the role of colonizing organisms.