Laparoscopic Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) for Peritoneal Metastasis: Improved Short-term Outcomes Revealed Through Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Introduction: Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) is the standard of care for selected cases of primary or secondary peritoneal surface malignancies. The study aims to verify the postoperative advantages of laparoscopic CRS-HIPEC.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent CRS-HIPEC at our institution was performed. Records were extracted from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were divided into two groups, laparoscopic CRS-HIPEC and open CRS-HIPEC, and matched for age, ASA, comorbidities, Prior Surgical Score (PSS), and Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) using propensity score analysis. Demographics, clinical, and operative data were compared between the two groups using chi-square or Fisher's exact test and T-test or Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: Between 2016 and 2022, 13 patients underwent laparoscopic CRS-HIPEC. These were matched to 32 open CRS-HIPEC patients (1:2.5), obtaining comparable demographics and clinical and preoperative variables. The two groups had a similar duration and complexity of surgery; however, the mean estimated blood loss was lower during laparoscopic procedures (p = 0.008). Overall morbidity rates were lower after laparoscopic CRS-HIPEC (p = 0.043); however, grade III-IV complications, reintervention, and 90-day readmission rates were comparable between the two groups. A faster postoperative recovery in all aspects of the postoperative course was observed, including hospital length of stay (6 vs. 9.5 days, p = 0.003).

Conclusions: Laparoscopic CRS-HIPEC is a feasible and safe procedure and shows improved short-term postoperative outcomes in selected patients with limited peritoneal disease compared to the open approach.