Laparoscopic Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy is Safe for Patients with Peritoneal Metastases from Gastric Cancer and May Lead to Gastrectomy

Background: Laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (LS-HIPEC) is a novel strategy for patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) metastatic to the peritoneum. We evaluated the safety profile of LS-HIPEC for patients with positive peritoneal cytology (PPC) or carcinomatosis from GA. Methods: Outcomes were reviewed of patients with stage IV GA with peritoneal involvement who received LS-HIPEC from June 2014 to January 2017. LS-HIPEC included a 60-minute perfusion of mitomycin-C (30 mg) and cisplatin (200 mg) with inflow temperatures of 41–42 °C and outflow temperatures of 39–40 °C. Results: A total of 71 LS-HIPEC procedures were performed in 44 patients. At diagnosis, 68% (n = 30) had carcinomatosis and 32% (n = 14) had isolated PPC. Three patients (7%) underwent LS-HIPEC for intractable ascites. All patients initially received systemic chemotherapy, and 20 patients (45%) received pre-procedural chemoradiotherapy. The median number of LS-HIPEC procedures performed per patient was one (range 1–5 procedures). There were no conversions to laparotomy, two outflow catheter obstructions, and one major (Clavien-Dindo grade III) surgical complication within 30 days. A total of seven postoperative adverse hematologic events (> CTCAE 2) were observed in five patients (11%), without any major renal or gastrointestinal adverse events within 30 days. The median overall length of hospital stay after LS-HIPEC was 2 (range 2–11) days. Eleven patients (25%) underwent secondary gastrectomy following resolution of peritoneal cytology. Conclusions: Laparoscopic HIPEC is a safe procedure and may be repeated in patients with peritoneal metastases from gastric cancer. Future studies are required to determine the optimal HIPEC regimen and timing relative to systemic therapy to best minimize morbidity.