Risk factors for gastrointestinal perforation and anastomotic leak in patients submitted to cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal leak is one of the most feared complications after cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) and harbors significant postoperative morbidity and mortality. We aim to identify risk-factors for anastomotic leak (AL) and gastrointestinal perforation (GP) to optimize postoperative outcomes of this population.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 1043 consecutive patients submitted to CRS in a single institution. Potential risk factors for AL and GP, both related to patient overall condition, disease status and surgical technique were reviewed.

RESULTS

Anastomotic leaks were identified in 5.2% of patients, and GPs in 7.0%. The independent risk-factors for AL were age at surgery (OR1.40; CI95% 1.10-1.79); peritoneal cancer index (PCI) (OR1.04, CI95% 1.01-1.07); Cisplatin dose >240 mg during HIPEC (OR3.53; CI95% 1.47-8.56) and the presence of colorectal (CR) or colo-colic (CC) anastomosis (OR5.09; CI95% 2.71-9.53, and 4.58; CI95% 1.22-17.24 respectively). Male gender and intraoperative red blood cell transfusions were the only independent risk factors for GP identified (OR1.70; CI95% 1.04-2.78 and 1.06; CI95% 1.01-1.12, respectively). Regarding 30-day and 90-day postoperative mortality, independent risk-factors were mainly related to patient's overall condition.

CONCLUSION

Gastrointestinal leaks are a frequent source of postoperative morbidity, mainly at the expense of GP. A careful and systematic intraoperative revision of all potential gastrointestinal injuries is equally critical to perfecting anastomotic fashioning techniques to decrease gastrointestinal complication rates. We identified multiple risk-factors for AL and GP related to disease status and patient condition. Our study suggests that patient-related conditions are of paramount relevance, highlighting the importance of patient selection and preoperative patient optimization.