Feasibility of diaphragmatic interventions in cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis: A 20-year experience

Introduction: Complete cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is an effective treatment for improving prognosis of selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. The addiction of diaphragmatic procedures may increase the incidence of postoperative respiratory complications. Our goal was to evaluate the early postoperative results following diaphragmatic surgery.

Methods: Prospectively collected data of patients undergoing diaphragmatic surgery between January 2000 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Chest drains were routinely placed in all cases. Demographics, clinical and perioperative features were evaluated.

Results: The study included 222 patients. Peritoneal stripping and full-thickness resections were performed in 165 and 57 cases, respectively. Women and ovarian tumours represented the vast majority of cases. Overall postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 1.3% (3 patients) and 43.2% (96 patients), respectively. Specific diaphragmatic surgery-related complications was 9.4% (21 patients). No pleural effusion and pneumothotrax occurred. The incidence of pneumonia was 1.8% (4 patients), each due to systemic bacterial origin, 2 (0.9%) of which required Intensive Care Unit-readmission. Postoperative bleeding was observed in 15 (6.7%) cases, 12 (5.4%) of which required reoperation. A comparison with 105 patients who operated during the same period without diaphragmatic surgery was performed and by multivariate analysis, Peritoneal Cancer Index, histology and overall morbidity resulted significantly associated with diaphragmatic surgery.

Conclusion: Diaphragmatic surgery during cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is often required in order to obtain complete resection. It may be associated with higher postoperative morbidity, especially bleeding, but routine placement of chest drains may reduce the incidence of adverse respiratory events.