Preoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy for gastric cancer, with special reference to delayed peritoneal complications.

Preoperative intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy was performed in 23 patients with gastric malignancies to inhibit peritoneal recurrence. Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) and mitomycin C (MMC) were administered intraperitoneally 3 days prior to surgery, at which time a very viscid peritoneum and mucinous intraperitoneal fluid were found in 100% and 83% of the patients, respectively. Inflammatory changes were microscopically observed in the subserosal layer of the resected stomachs and in the intraperitoneal fluid, but degenerative changes characteristic of cancer cells could not be seen. The 3-year survival rate of the stage III patients was 55.6%, and peritoneal recurrence was found in three of six patients with recurrence. Extensive adhesions were found in eight patients (34.8%) as a delayed peritoneal complication, and chronic bowel obstruction resulting from the adhesion developed in five patients (21.7%). Thus, we conclude that the administration of this IP chemotherapy demonstrated no definite antitumor effects or survival benefits, but was frequently associated with delayed peritoneal complications.