Respiratory Complications in the Immediate Postoperative Period after Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Nowadays: An Observational Study.

Background and objectives: Several respiratory complications have been described after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Materials and methods: Patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) after CRS and HIPEC during 10 years.

Data recorded were: Demographic characteristics; severity of illness; complete blood sample; chest radiographs; type of cancer and extension; HIPEC drug and temperature; ICU and hospital stay; and mortality.

Results: Of the 124 patients included, 67 patients (54.0%) presented respiratory complications: 56 (83.6%) acute respiratory failure, 25 (37.3%) pleural effusion, 13 (19.4%) atelectasis, and 3 (4.5%) other; only 1 (3.0%) developed pneumonia. They had higher severity scores at ICU admission. 1 patient required initiation of invasive mechanical ventilation during ICU admission due to pneumonia, and 1 patient needed placement of a pleural chest tube due to symptomatic pleural effusion.Only the need for a high fluid balance during surgery was correlated to the development of respiratory complications on multivariate analysis.Median ICU stay was 5 (4.0-5.0) days. ICU mortality was 0.8.0%.

Conclusion: In our study, 54% of patients treated with CRS and HIPEC developed respiratory complications during the postoperative period. However, the majority of these complications were not severe and did not significantly impact mortality rates or hospital stays.

How to cite this article: Pintado MC, Oñoro A, Beltran D, Nevado E. Respiratory Complications in the Immediate Postoperative Period after Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Nowadays: An Observational Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(10):952-957.