Efficacy of dexmedetomidine as an adjunct to ropivacaine in bilateral dual-transversus abdominis plane blocks in patients with ovarian cancer who underwent cytoreductive surgery

Objective We sought to evaluate the postoperative control of pain and recovery in patients with ovarian cancer who underwent cytoreductive surgery by adding dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine in bilateral dual-transversus abdominis plane (Bd-TAP) blocks. Methods We enrolled 90 patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to III undergoing open abdominal cytoreductive surgery in this study. Patients were randomized and assigned into three groups (TAP-R, TAP-DR, or CON) of 30 participants each. All of the patients received standardized general anesthesia, and postoperative Bd-TAP blocks were performed. The TAP-R, TAP-DR, and CON groups received Bd-TAP blocks with 0.3% ropivacaine, 0.3% ropivacaine and 0.5 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine, and 0.9% normal saline, respectively. All of the patients received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) (formula, 100 μg of sufentanil and 16 mg of ondansetron diluted with normal saline to 100 mL). Flurbiprofen axetil was used as a rescue drug if the visual analog scale (VAS) score was more than four points. The first request time for PCA bolus; the VAS scores at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after operation; and the cumulative sufentanil consumption within 24 and 48 h, respectively, were compared. Pulmonary function was evaluated preoperatively and at 24 h after the operation. The use of the rescue drug was recorded. Postoperative functional recovery, including time to stand, time to walk, time to return of bowel function, time to readiness for discharge, and postoperative complications, were recorded. Results Median values of the first request time for PCA of the TAP-R group was significantly prolonged compared to that of the CON group (median [interquartile range], 7.3 [6.5–8.0] hours vs. 3.0 [2.3–3.5] hours) (P < .001), while the TAP-DR group has the longest request time among the three groups (median [interquartile range], 13.5 [12.4–14.5] hours) (P < .001). The VAS scores at rest and upon coughing of the TAP-R group in the first 12 h were significantly lower than those of the CON group (P < 0.05), but showed no significant difference compared to those of the TAP-DR group. The VAS scores at rest and upon coughing were lower in the TAP-DR group at each time point compared to those of the CON group (P < .05). The cumulative sufentanil consumption in the TAP-DR group was significantly lower at 48 h (P = .04) after surgery than in the CON group, while there was no significant difference compared to that in the TAP-R group (P > .05). Less rescue analgesic was required by patients in the TAP-DR group than in the CON group (P < .05). Postoperative mean measured forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity values in the TAP-DR group were significantly higher than those of the CON group (P = .009), while there was no significant difference compared to those of the TAP-R group (P = .10). There was no significantly difference in postoperative functional recovery between TAP-DR and CON group (P > 0.05). Conclusion TAP blocks can provide effective pain relief up to 12 h postoperatively without a significant improvement in postoperative pulmonary function. The addition of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine for Bd-TAP block prolonged the first bolus time of PCA when compared to that in the TAP-R group and decreased sufentanil consumption and the need of rescue analgesia relative to in the CON group at 48 h postoperative. The procedure provided better postoperative analgesia and improved postoperative pulmonary function relative to the CON group. Our results indicate that dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant of Bd-TAP can provide effective pain relief up to 48 h.

Gastric cancer: modern approaches and prospects of treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis (literature review)

Gastric cancer (gc) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The majority of newly diagnosed gastric cancer cases present with distant metastases. Peritoneal carcinomatosis (pc) is the most unfavorable type of progression of primary gc, which occurs in 14–43 % of patients. The purpose of the study was to highlight modern approaches to the treatment of gc with pc. Material and methods. We analyzed 136 publications available from pubmed, medline, cochrane library, and elibrary databases. The final analysis included 46 studies that met the specified parameters. Results. The modern approaches to the treatment of gc with peritoneal carcinomatosis were reviewed, namely: cytoreductive surgery (crs), combination of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (crs/hipec); neoadjuvant intraperitoneal/systemic chemotherapy (nips) and pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (pipac). The results of large randomized trials and meta-analyses were analyzed. Benefits and limitations of these trials were assessed. Conclusion. The peritoneal cancer index (pci) and the level of cytoreduction are two key prognostic factors for increasing the median overall survival. By reducing tumor volume through cytoreductive surgery, it is possible to allow tumor cells to re-enter the proliferative phase of the cell cycle and make them more sensitive to antitumor agents. The hematoperitoneal barrier is the main reason that prevents the effective delivery of drugs from the systemic bloodstream to the abdominal cavity, which is why the effect of systemic chemotherapy on peritoneal metastases is extremely limited. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy offers a more effective and intensive regional therapy, creating a so-called «depot» of a chemotherapy drug, thereby prolonging the effect of the administered drugs. Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (crs + hipec) using the combination of surgical resection, cytotoxic chemotherapy, hyperthermic ablation of the tumor and hydrodynamic flushing, is a promising approach in the treatment of gc with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Visceral Obesity Determined by CT As a Predictor of Short-term Postoperative Complications in Ovarian Cancer

Objective: To explore the association between visceral obesity and short-term postoperative complications in patients with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing cytoreductive surgery.Methods: Medical records were reviewed for patients with ovarian cancer. Visceral fat area, subcutaneous fat area and total fat area were measured on a single slice at the level of L3/4 of a preoperative CT scan. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to investigate the correlation between visceral obesity and short-term complications and to analyze the risk factors for complications after surgery.Results: Of the 130 patients, 53.8% (70/130) were presented visceral obesity. Patients with visceral obesity were older than those with nonvisceral obesity (58.3 years old vs. 52.3 years old, p = 0.001). The proportion of patients with hypertension was slightly higher (37.1% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.001). The total fat area and subcutaneous fat area were higher in patients with visceral obesity (296.9 ± 72.1 vs. 173.1 ± 67.3, p < 0.001; 168.8 ± 55.5 vs. 121.6 ± 54.3, p < 0.001). Compared with patients in the nonvisceral obese group, patients in the visceral obese group were more likely to have postoperative fever (21/70 30.0% vs. 8/60 1.25%, p = 0.023), leading to a longer length of hospital stay (21 days vs. 17 days, p = 0.009). Time from surgery to adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with visceral obesity has been delayed (24 days vs. 20 days, p = 0.037). Multivariate analysis showed that visceral obesity (OR 4.770, p < 0.001) and operation time (OR 1.008, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of postoperative complications. Conclusion: Visceral obesity is an important risk factor for short-term postoperative complications in patients with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing cytoreductive surgery.

Early Postoperative Extubation is Associated with Shorter Hospitalization and Improved Short-Term Survival in Patients Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Background Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) is associated with significant operative time, hospital resources, and morbidity. We examine factors associated with hospital length of stay (LOS) and early overall survival (OS) after CRS/HIPEC. Materials and Methods Patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC were evaluated for factors associated with LOS. Institutional learning curve influence was addressed by comparing early vs late cohorts. Variables with P < .200 after univariate analysis were considered for inclusion in multivariate linear regression modeling. Independent factors associated with OS were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Seventy patients underwent CRS/HIPEC (mean age 52.3 years, 64.3% female, and 68.6% Caucasian). Presence of any surgical complication was found in 26 (37.1%), 28 (40%) remained intubated postoperatively, and the mean Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index (PCI) score was 14.4 ([Formula: see text]10.4). Mean intensive care unit and hospital LOS were 2.9 days ([Formula: see text]2.3) and 9.6 days ([Formula: see text]3.6), respectively. After adjusting for covariates, only shorter time to postoperative ambulation (regression coefficient .92, P = .001) and early extubation (regression coefficient −1.90, P = .018) were associated with decreased hospital LOS on multivariate analysis. Immediate postoperative extubation conferred an independent early survival benefit on Kaplan-Meier analysis (mean OS 714.8 vs 473.4 days, P = .010). There was no difference in hospital LOS or OS between early and late cohorts. Conclusion Early postoperative extubation and shorter time to ambulation are associated with decreased hospital LOS. Moreover, CRS/HIPEC patients extubated immediately postoperatively have an early survival benefit. Every effort should be made to achieve early postoperative extubation and mobilization in CRS/HIPEC patients.

Complete pathological response of colorectal peritoneal metastases in Lynch syndrome after immunotherapy case report: is a paradigm shift in cytoreductive surgery needed?

Background We report the first case of a patient affected by peritoneal metastases from colon cancer, arising in the context of Lynch syndrome with pathological complete response. The patient was treated with immunotherapy and cytoreductive surgery. This paper discusses the implications of these novel therapies for the management of PM. Case presentation A 50-year-old man affected by Lynch syndrome was referred to our institution for metachronous peritoneal recurrence of ascending colon adenocarcinoma. As a second-line treatment, he received Nivolumab therapy with stable disease. Patient underwent cytoreductive surgery with residual disease and a pathological complete response. Flow cytometry described a particular immune sub-population response. There was no evidence of disease progression after nine months. Conclusion This is the first report of a Lynch patient affected by peritoneal metastases of colorectal cancer, treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and resulting in a pathological complete response after immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment (ICIs). This case report may suggest that patients with peculiar immunological features could benefit from a tailored approach, since “classical” CRS paradigms may not effectively predict the clinical outcome. Further large-scale studies are needed to determine the correct operative management of such patients (tailored or “standard” CRS), defining the correct surgical timing and eventual discontinuation of ICI therapy after surgery.