Extent of colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis: attempt to define a threshold above which HIPEC does not offer survival benefit: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The main prognostic factors after complete cytoreductive surgery (CCRS) of colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) are completeness of the resection and extent of the disease. This study aimed to determine a threshold value above which CCRS plus IPC may not offer survival benefit compared with systemic chemotherapy. METHODS: Between March 2000 and May 2010, 180 patients underwent surgery for PC from colorectal cancer with intended performance of CCRS plus IPC. RESULTS: Among the 180 patients, CCRS plus IPC could be performed for 139 patients (curative group, 77 %), whereas it could not be performed for 41 patients (palliative group, 23 %). The two groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, primary tumor characteristics, and pre- and postoperative systemic chemotherapy. The mean peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was lower in the curative group (11 ± 7) than in the palliative group (23 ± 7) (p < 0.0001). After a median follow-up period of 60 months (range 47-74 months), the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 52 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 43-61 %] in the curative group compared with 7 % (95 % CI 2-25 %) in the palliative group. Comparison of the survivals for each PCI (ranging from 5 to 36) shows that OS did not differ significantly between the two groups of patients when the PCI was higher than 17 (hazard ratio 0.64; range 0.38-1.09). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the major prognostic impact of PC extent. When the PCI exceeds 17 in PC of colorectal origin, CCRS plus IPC does not seem to offer any survival benefit.

Should patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin with synchronous liver metastases be treated with a curative intent? A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prognostic impact of liver metastases (LM) in patients with colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) who underwent complete cytoreductive surgery and resection of LM, followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy. BACKGROUND: Synchronous surgical treatment of PC and LM with curative intent remains controversial. METHODS: From a prospective database, all patients with PC and synchronous LM who had undergone cytoreductive surgery and LM resection followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy were matched with patients with PC alone according to the following criteria: age, peritoneal cancer index (PCI), site and lymph node involvement (pN) of primary cancer, and postoperative chemotherapy. RESULTS: From 1993 to 2009, 37 patients with PC and LM were matched with 61 patients with PC alone. After a mean follow-up of 36 months, 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival rates were significantly lower in patients with PC and LM, respectively, 40% and 66% (P = 0.04) and 6% and 27% (P = 0.001). A PCI of 12 or more [odds ratio (OR): 4.6], a pN+ status (OR: 3.3), no adjuvant chemotherapy (OR: 3.0), and presence of LM (OR: 2.0) were identified as independent factors for poor OS. Three groups were singled out: (1) patients with a low PCI (<12) and no LM (median OS: 76 months); (2) patients with a low PCI (<12) and 1 or 2 LM (median OS: 40 months); and (3) patients with a high PCI (≥12) or patients with 3 LMs or more (median OS: 27 months). CONCLUSIONS: This case-control study seems to confirm that prolonged survival can be achieved in highly selected patients operated on for limited PC and fewer than 3 LM.

Cirugía colorrectal laparoscópica mano-asistida: ¿una alternativa válida? / Flow-attended laparoscópica rectocolonic surgery: a valid alternative?

Introducción: La cirugía colorrectal laparascópica mano-asistida es propuesta como una alternativa a la laparoscopia convencional para facilitar el procedimiento conservando las ventajas del abordaje mínimamente invasivo. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar la experiencia inicial con esta técnica en términos de resultados intra y posoperatorios inmediatos en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal. Método: Se analizan 38 pacientes (22 mujeres, edad promedio 69 años, mediana de IMC: 24) operados en forma electiva entre julio de 2006 y septiembre de 2007. Las indicaciones fueron: adenocarciroma de colon derecho (11 casos), adenocrarciroma sincrónico (1 caso). Se efecturaon 12 colectomías derechas, 9 sigmoidectomías, 9 resecciones anteriores (5 altas, 2 bajas y 2 ultrabajas), 5 colectomías izquierdas, 1 colectomía transversa, 1 colectomía doble y 1 colectomía total. Resultados: El tamaño de la herida fue de 5,25 cm (IC 95% 5-6cm). El tiempo operatorio global fue de 170 minutos (IC 95% 140-180). Las resecciones anteriores se asociaron a un tiempo operatorio más prolongado: 190 vs 145 minutos para las colectomías derechas y 150 minutos para las colectomías izquierdas, p <0.005. La mediana de pérdida sanguínea se estimó en 70 ml (IC 95% 60-100). El total de conversiones fue de 2 casos (5,3%), no registrándose ninguna conversión en los últimos 22 casos y en ninguna colectomía. No se registraron complicaciones intraoperatorias ni muertes posoperatorias. La estadia hospitalaria fue de 4 días (IC 95% 3-4) sin ningún caso de reinternación. El 44% de los pacientes eliminó gases el primer día posoperatorio (mediana 2 días, IC 95% 1-2 días). La morbilidad fue del 14,3% (5pacientes): infección de herida 3 casos, débito sanguíneo por el drenaje 1 caso, íleo posoperatorio 1 caso. Conclusión: La técnica laparoscópica mano-asistida demostró mantener las ventajas del abordaje laparoscopica convencional y se asoció a un muy bajo nivel de conversión a pesar de haberse aplicado...