Analysis of Intraoperative Variables Responsible for the Increase in Lactic Acid in Patients Undergoing Debulking Surgery

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is a complex procedure with a high incidence of perioperative complications. Elevated lactacidaemia levels have been associated with complications and perioperative morbidity and mortality. This study aims to analyse the intraoperative variables of patients undergoing CRS and their relationship with lactacidaemia levels. Methods: This retrospective, observational study included 51 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis who underwent CRS between 2014 and 2016 at the Abdomino-Pelvic Oncological Surgery Reference Unit (URCOAP) of the General University Hospital of Castellón (HGUCS). The main variable of interest was the level of lactic acid at the end of surgery. Intraoperative variables, including preoperative haemoglobin, duration of surgery, intraoperative bleeding, fluid therapy administered, administration of blood products, and intraoperative peritoneal cancer index (PCI), were analysed. Results: Positive correlations were found between lactic acid levels and PCI, duration of intervention, fluid therapy, intraoperative bleeding, and transfusion of blood products. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between haemoglobin levels and lactic acid levels. Notably, the strongest correlations were found with operative PCI (ρ = 0.532; p-value < 0.001) and duration of surgery (ρ = 0.518; p-value < 0.001). Conclusions: PCI and duration of surgery are decisive variables in determining the prognosis of patients undergoing debulking surgery. This study suggests that, for each minute of surgery, lactic acid levels increase by 0.005 mmol/L, and for each unit increase in PCI, lactic acid levels increase by 0.060 mmol/L.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy plus Interval Cytoreductive Surgery with or without Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (NIHIPEC) in the Treatment of Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Multicentric Propensity Score Study

INTRODUCTION

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is primarily confined to the peritoneal cavity. When primary complete surgery is not possible, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is provided; however, the peritoneum-plasma barrier hinders the drug effect. The intraperitoneal administration of chemotherapy could eliminate residual microscopic peritoneal tumor cells and increase this effect by hyperthermia. Intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (HIPEC) after interval cytoreductive surgery could improve outcomes in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multicenter, retrospective observational study of advanced EOC patients who underwent interval cytoreductive surgery alone (CRSnoH) or interval cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC (CRSH) was carried out in Spain between 07/2012 and 12/2021. A total of 515 patients were selected. Progression-free survival (PFS) and OS analyses were performed. The series of patients who underwent CRSH or CRSnoH was balanced regarding the risk factors using a statistical analysis technique called propensity score matching.

RESULTS

A total of 170 patients were included in each subgroup. The complete surgery rate was similar in both groups (79.4% vs. 84.7%). The median PFS times were 16 and 13 months in the CRSH and CRSnoH groups, respectively (Hazard ratio (HR) 0.74; 95% CI, 0.58-0.94; p = 0.031). The median OS times were 56 and 50 months in the CRSH and CRSnoH groups, respectively (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.64-1.20; p = 0.44). There was no increase in complications in the CRSH group.

CONCLUSION

The addition of HIPEC after interval cytoreductive surgery is safe and increases DFS in advanced EOC patients.

Treatment of esophageal perforation: A review of our experience at a tertiary referral hospital spanning the past 19 years

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Esophageal perforation is an uncommon event that is a medical/surgical emergency, with a 15-30% mortality rate. The aim of the present study was to communicate our experience in the management of esophageal perforation, evaluating the different strategies utilized, in an effort to establish measures to guide decision-making in selecting treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on patients diagnosed with esophageal perforation at our hospital center, within the time frame of 2000 and 2019.

RESULTS

Over the past 19 years, 15 patients were diagnosed with esophageal perforation. Surgical treatment was carried out in 80% of the cases. Primary closure, reinforced with plasty, was performed in 67% of the patients, of whom 62.5% had early diagnosis and a 100% survival rate. Diagnosis was late in 37.5% of the cases, with a 33.3% survival rate. Esophagectomy and gastric pull-up were performed on 25% of the patients, 66.6% of whom had early diagnosis and a 100% survival rate. In the 33.3% that had late diagnosis, the mortality rate was 100%. Esophagectomy, with cervical esophagostomy and feeding jejunostomy, was performed on one of the patients (8.3%) that had early diagnosis and a 100% survival rate.

CONCLUSIONS

The main survival predictor in esophageal perforation is the interval of time between the injury and its diagnosis, and in turn, the resulting treatment. Each patient with esophageal perforation should have individualized treatment to adequately manage the condition.

Postoperative Intestinal Fistula in Primary Advanced Ovarian Cancer Surgery

Background

Advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) requires an aggressive surgery with large visceral resections in order to achieve an optimal or complete cytoreduction and increase the patient’s survival. However, the surgical aggressiveness in the treatment of AOC is not exempt from major complications, such as the gastrointestinal fistula (GIF), which stands out among others due to its high morbidity and mortality.

Methods

We evaluated the clinicopathological features in patients with AOC and their association with GI. Data for 107 patients with AOC who underwent primary debulking surgery were analyzed retrospectively. Clinicopathological features, including demographic, surgical procedures and follow-up data, were analyzed in relation to GIF.

Results

GIF was present in 11% of patients in the study, 5 (4.5%) and 7 (6.4%) of colorectal and small bowel origin, respectively. GIF was significantly associated with peritoneal cancer index (PCI) >20, more than 2 visceral resections, and multiple digestive resections. Overall and disease-free survival were also associated with GIF. Multivariate analysis identified partial bowel obstruction and operative bleeding as independent prognostic factors for survival. The presence of GIF is positively associated with poor prognosis in patients with AOC.

Conclusion

Given the importance of successful cytoreductive surgery in AOC, the assessment of the amount of tumor and the aggressiveness of the surgery to avoid the occurrence of GIF become a priority in patients with AOC.

A radiologic-laparoscopic model to predict suboptimal (or complete and optimal) debulking surgery in advanced ovarian cancer: a pilot study

Introduction: Medical models assist clinicians in making diagnostic and prognostic decisions in complex situations. In advanced ovarian cancer, medical models could help prevent unnecessary exploratory surgery. We designed two models to predict suboptimal or complete and optimal cytoreductive surgery in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Methods: We collected clinical, pathological, surgical, and residual tumor data from 110 patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Computed tomographic and laparoscopic data from these patients were used to determine peritoneal cancer index (PCI) and lesion size score. These data were then used to construct two-by-two contingency tables and our two predictive models. Each model included three risk score levels; the R4 model also included operative PCI, while the R3 model did not. Finally, we used the original patient data to validate the models (narrow validation).

Results: Our models predicted suboptimal or complete and optimal cytoreductive surgery with a sensitivity of 83% (R4 model) and 69% (R3 model). Our results also showed that PCI>20 was a major risk factor for unresectability.

Conclusion: Our medical models successfully predicted suboptimal or complete and optimal cytoreductive surgery in 110 patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Our models are easy to construct, based on readily available laboratory test data, simple to use clinically, and could reduce unnecessary exploratory surgery in this patient group.

The 8th edition of the AJCC-TNM classification: New contributions to the staging of esophagogastric junction cancer

The new 8th edition of the TNM classification system for esophageal and cardia or esophagogastric junction cancer provides important innovations in the TNM stages. Two classifications are presented, updated by stages, clinical (cTNM) and pathological (pTNM) methods, together with another pathological classification applicable to cases receiving neoadjuvant treatment (ypTNM). There is a notable increase in complexity compared to previous versions, but it is still early to determine whether the current modifications will result in a clear improvement in the prognostic discrimination of survival among the patient groups (which is their main objective), although the initial expectations are favorable.

Predictive model for major complications after extensive abdominal surgery in primary advanced ovarian cancer

Background

Surgery for advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) frequently results in serious complications. The present study aimed to determine the importance of various factors and complications in cytoreductive surgery for AOC.

Patients and methods

The present study included 90 patients with AOC who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery in a single institution from January 2013 to August 2017. Demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical procedures, residual disease, and follow-up data were analyzed. Cytoreductive surgery was defined as complete (no residual tumor), optimal (residual tumor <1 cm in diameter), and suboptimal (residual tumor >1 cm in diameter). Grade III–IV complications were considered major. Patients were evaluated every 3–6 months.

Results

Surgical outcome was complete in 75 (82%), optimal in 5 (6%), and suboptimal in 11 (12%) patients. Major complications occurred in 28 (31%) patients. Independent risk factors for major complications were ≥five visceral resections, rectosigmoid resection, glissectomy, and pelvic peritonectomy. A score created by weighing the multivariate OR for each risk factor correctly predicted major complications in 67% of cases. A score cut-off of >2 discriminated between patients with and without complications in 79% of cases (95% CI: 70%–86%, P<0.001). Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed as planned in 67 patients (74%), including 50 (75%) without major complications and 17 (25%) with major complications.

Conclusion

Risk factors for major complications in cytoreductive surgery for AOC are ≥five visceral resections, rectosigmoid resection, glissectomy, and pelvic peritonectomy. Our model predicts morbidity based on major and minor classifications of complications.