Long-term experience with debulking surgery in extensive hepatic alveolar echinococcosis:A case series and literature review

Objective:To assess the role of debulking surgery in extensive hepatic alveolar echinococcosis(HAE).Methods:Five cases of extensive HAE undergoing debulking surgery with their long-term follow-ups were reported.Additionally,a systematic review was carried out.Results:The average age of patients in the study was(50.8±17.1)years(range 36 to 77 years).Three cases were female.The median follow-up period was 61 months(range 12 to 84 months).Left liver resections were performed in 2 cases and right hemihepatectomies were undertaken in 2 cases.Two patients(cases 2 and 4)developed early surgical complications,while one of them(case 4)who suffered from the recurrent sub-hepatic abscess died at 12 months postoperatively.Conclusions:This study highlights the importance of debulking surgery for the management of complex symptomatic HAE lesions in patients with no curative option available.

Successful robotic radical resection of hepatic echinococcosis located in posterosuperior liver segments

BACKGROUND Radical resection is an important treatment method for hepatic echinococcosis.The posterosuperior segments of the liver remain the most challenging region for laparoscopic or robotic hepatectomy.AIM To demonstrate the safety and preliminary experience of robotic radical resection of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in posterosuperior liver segments.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 5 patients with a median age of 37 years(21-56 years)with cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in difficult liver lesions admitted to two centers from September to December 2019.The surgical methods included total pericystectomy,segmental hepatectomy,or hemihepatectomy.RESULTS Among the 5 patients,4 presented with cystic echinococcosis and 1 presented with alveolar echinococcosis,all of whom underwent robotic radical operation successfully without conversion to laparotomy.Total caudate lobectomy was performed in 2 cases,hepatectomy of segment Ⅶ in 1 case,total pericystectomy of segment Ⅷ in 1 case,and right hemihepatectomy in 1 case.Operation time was 225 min(175-300 min);blood loss was 100 mL(50-600 mL);and postoperative hospital stay duration was 10 d(5-19 d).The Clavien-Dindo complication grade was Ⅰ in 4 cases and Ⅱ in 1 case.No recurrence of echinococcosis was found in any patient at the 3 mo of follow-up.CONCLUSION Robotic radical surgery for cystic and selected alveolar echinococcosis in posterosuperior liver segments is safe and feasible.

Human cystic echinococcosis:epidemiologic,zoonotic,clinical,diagnostic and therapeutic aspects

This review represents an updated scenario on the transmission cycle,epidemiology,clinical features and pathogenicity,diagnosis and treatment,and prevention and control measures of a cestode parasite Echincoccus granulosus(E.granulosus) infection causing cystic echinococcosis (CE) in humans.Human CE is a serious life-threatening neglected zoonotic disease that occurs in both developing and developed countries,and is recognized as a major public health problem. The life cycle of E.granulosus involves a definitive host(dogs and other canids) for the adult E.granulosus that resides in the intestine,and an intermediate host(sheep and other herbivores) for the tissue-invading metacestode(larval) stage.Humans are only incidentally infected;since the completion of the life cycle of E.granulosus depends on carnivores feeding on herbivores bearing hydatid cysts with viable protoscoleces,humans represent usually the dead end for the parasite.On ingestion of E.granulosus eggs,hydatid cysts are formed mostly in liver and lungs, and occasionally in other organs of human body,which are considered as uncommon sites of localization of hydatid cysts.The diagnosis of extrahepatic echinococcal disease is more accurate today because of the availability of new imaging techniques,and the current treatments include surgery and percutaneous drainage,and chemotherapy(albendazole and mebendazole).But.the wild animals that involve in sylvatic cycle may overlap and interact with the domestic sheepdog cycle,and thus complicating the control efforts.The updated facts and phenomena regarding human and animal CE presented herein are due to the web search of SCI and non-SCI journals.

Cystic echinococcosis of the liver: A primer for hepatologists

Cystic echinococcosis(CE) is a complex, chronic and neglected disease with a worldwide distribution. The liver is the most frequent location of parasitic cysts. In humans, its clinical spectrum ranges from asymptom-atic infection to severe, potentially fatal disease. Four approaches exist in the clinical management of CE: surgery, percutaneous techniques and drug treatment for active cysts, and the "watch and wait" approach for inactive cysts. Allocation of patients to these treat-ments should be based on cyst stage, size and location, available clinical expertise, and comorbidities. However, clinical decision algorithms, efficacy, relapse rates, and costs have never been properly evaluated. This paper reviews recent advances in classification and diagnosisand the currently available evidence for clinical deci-sion-making in cystic echinococcosis of the liver.

Complications of extrahepatic echinococcosis:Fistulization of an adrenal hydatid cyst into the intestine

Echinococcal cysts are usually found in liver and lungs, but any other organ can potentially be involved. Extrahepatic disease due to hydatid cyst may develop in the abdominal and pelvic cavity, aside from in other less common locations, which may make both diagnosis and treatment more complex. We present a rare case of extrahepatic echinococcosis in a 70-year old patient with a 4-d history of dull abdominal pain, anemia within the transfusion range and fever. She underwent surgery for left renal hydatid cysts 30 years ago. After non operative treatment, imaging studies showed a calcified hydatid cyst in a retrogastric location communicating with a proximal jejunal loop. En-block resection of the mass together with the adrenal gland was performed including closure of the enteric fistula. Anatomic pathology confirmed the diagnosis of a calcified hydatid cyst of left adrenal origin. Surgery is the treatment of choice and most authors recommend removal of cyst and adrenal gland.

Preoperative albumin level is a marker of alveolar echinococcosis recurrence after hepatectomy

AIM To identify a preoperative blood marker predictive of alveolar echinococcosis(AE) recurrence after hepatectomy.METHODS All consecutive patients who underwent operation for liver AE at the Lausanne University Hospital(CHUV) between January 1992 and December 2015 were included in this retrospective study. Preoperative laboratory values of leukocytes, mean corpuscular volume(MCV), red blood cell distribution width(RDW), thrombocytes, C-reactive protein(CRP) and albumin were collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors for AE recurrence after liver resection. A receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was used to define the best discrimination threshold of the blood marker. Moreover, recurrencefree survival curves were calculated using the KaplanMeier method.RESULTS The cohort included 68 adult patients(37 females) with median age of 61 years [interquartile range(IQR): 46-71]. Eight of the patients(12%) presented a recurrence over a median follow-up time of 76 mo(IQR: 34-128). Median time to recurrence was 10 mo(IQR: 6-11). Median preoperative leukocyte, MCV, RDW,thrombocyte and CRP levels were similar between recurrent and non-recurrent cases. Median preoperative albumin level was 43 g/L(IQR: 41-45) for nonrecurrent cases and 36 g/L(IQR: 33-42) for recurrent cases(P = 0.005). The area under the ROC curve for preoperative albumin level to predict recurrence was 0.840(95%CI: 0.642-1, P = 0.002). The cutoff albumin level value was 37.5 g/L for sensitivity of 94.5% and specificity of 75%. In multivariate analysis, preoperative albumin and surgical resection margins were independent predictors of AE recurrence(HR = 0.099, P = 0.007 and HR = 0.182, P = 0.045 respectively).CONCLUSION Low preoperative albumin level was associated with AE recurrence in the present cohort. Thus, preoperative albumin may be a useful biomarker to guide follow-up.

Impact of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy on gastric cancer survival: Peritoneal metastasis and cytology perspectives

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer presenting with peritoneal metastasis is notably associated with diminished survival prospects.The use of cytoreductive surgery in conjunction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC)has been shown to increase survival rates in these patients.Despite these advancements,debates persist regarding the magnitude of survival improvement attributed to this treatment modality.The present investigation examined survival outcomes following HIPEC in individuals diagnosed with gastric cancer and peritoneal metastasis,and it took a comparative analysis of patients exhibiting positive and negative cytological findings.Between April 2013 and March 2020,84 patients with advanced gastric cancer treated at our institution were categorized into three cohorts:HIPEC(20 patients with peritoneal metastasis),cytology-positive(23 patients without peritoneal nodules but with positive wash cytology),and cytology-negative(41 patients with advanced gastric cancer,no peritoneal nodules,and negative wash cytology).The HIPEC cohort underwent gastrectomy with HIPEC,while the cytology-positive and cytology-negative groups received gastrectomy alone.The demographic,pat-hological,and survival data of the groups were compared.RESULTS The HIPEC cohort-predominantly younger females-exhibited relatively extended surgical durations and high blood loss.Nevertheless,the complication rates were consistent across all three groups.Median survival in the HIPEC group was 20.00±4.89 months,with 1-year,2-year,and 3-year overall survival rates of 73.90%,28.70%,and 9.60%,respectively.These figures paralleled the survival rates of the cytology-positive group(52.20%at 1 year,28.50%at 2 years,and 19.00%at 3 years).Notably,47%of patients experienced peritoneal recurrence.CONCLUSION HIPEC may offer a modest improvement in short-term survival for patients with gastric cancer and peritoneal metastasis,mirroring the outcomes in cytology-positive patients.However,peritoneal recurrence remained high.

Prolonged hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy duration with 90 minutes cisplatin might increase overall survival in gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastases

BACKGROUND Advanced gastric cancer with synchronous peritoneal metastases(GC-PM)is associated with a poor prognosis.Although cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(CRS-HIPEC)is a promising approach,only a limited number of Western studies exist.AIM To investigate the clinicopathological outcomes of patients who underwent CRSHIPEC for GC-PM.METHODS A retrospective analysis of patients with GC-PM was conducted.All patients were seen at the Department of General and Visceral Surgery,Hospital Barmherzige Brüder,Regensburg,Germany between January 2011 and July 2021 and underwent CRS-HIPEC.Preoperative laboratory results,the use of neoadjuvant trastuzumab,and the details of CRS-HIPEC,including peritoneal carcinomatosis index,completeness of cytoreduction,and surgical procedures were recorded.Disease-specific(DSS),and overall survival(OS)of patients were calculated.RESULTS A total of 73 patients were included in the study.Patients treated with neoadjuvant trastuzumab(n=5)showed longer DSS(P=0.0482).Higher white blood cell counts(DSS:P=0.0433)and carcinoembryonic antigen levels(OS and DSS:P<0.01),and lower hemoglobin(OS and DSS:P<0.05)and serum total protein(OS:P=0.0368)levels were associated with shorter survival.Longer HIPEC duration was associated with more advantageous median survival times[60-min(n=59):12.86 mo;90-min(n=14):27.30 mo],but without statistical difference.To obtain additional data from this observation,further separation of the study population was performed.First,propensity score-matched patient pairs(n=14 in each group)were created.Statistically different DSS was found between patient pairs(hazard ratio=0.2843;95%confidence interval:0.1119-0.7222;P=0.0082).Second,those patients who were treated with trastuzumab and/or had human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positivity(median survival:12.68 mo vs 24.02 mo),or had to undergo the procedure before 2016(median survival:12.68 mo vs 27.30 mo;P=0.0493)were removed from the original study population.CONCLUSION Based on our experience,CRS-HIPEC is a safe and secure method to improve the survival of advanced GC-PM patients.Prolonged HIPEC duration may serve as a good therapy for these patients.

Chinese expert consensus on cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal malignancies

Locoregional spread of abdominopelvic malignant tumors frequently results in peritoneal carcinomatosis(PC). The prognosis of PC patients treated by conventional systemic chemotherapy is poor, with a median survival of < 6 mo. However, over the past three decades, an integrated treatment strategy of cytoreductive surgery(CRS) + hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC) has been developed by the pioneering oncologists, with proved efficacy and safety in selected patients. Supported by several lines of clinical evidence from phases Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ clinical trials, CRS + HIPEC has been regarded as the standard treatment for selected patients with PC in many established cancer centers worldwide. In China, an expert consensus on CRS + HIPEC has been reached by the leading surgical and medical oncologists, under the framework of the China Anti-Cancer Association. This expert consensus has summarized the progress in PC clinical studies and systematically evaluated the CRS + HIPEC procedures in China as well as across the world, so as to lay the foundation for formulating PC treatment guidelines specific to the national conditions of China.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitonealchemotherapy in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer associated peritoneal carcinomatosis(GCPC) has a poor prognosis with a median survival of less than one year. Systemic chemotherapy including targeted agents has not been found to significantly increase the survival in GCPC. Since recurrent gastric cancer remains confined to the abdominal cavity in many patients, regional therapies like aggressive cytoreductive surgery( CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC) have been investigated for GCPC. HIPEC has been used for three indications in GC- as an adjuvant therapy after a curative surgery, HIPEC has been shown to improve survival and reduce peritoneal recurrences in many randomised trials in Asian countries; as a definitive treatment in established PC, HIPEC along with CRS is the only therapeutic modality that has resulted in longterm survival in select groups of patients; as a palliative treatment in advanced PC with intractable ascites, HIPEC has been shown to control ascites and reduce the need for frequent paracentesis. While the results of randomised trials of adjuvant HIPEC from western centres are awaited, the role of HIPEC in the treatment of GCPC is still evolving and needs larger studies before it is accepted as a standard of care.

Early and long-term postoperative management following cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

Peritoneal surface malignancies have been traditionally regarded as end-stage conditions amenable to merely palliative options. The combination of aggressive cytoreductive surgery (CRS), involving peritonectomy procedures and multivisceral resections, with intra-operative hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and/or early postoperative intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) to treat the microscopic residual tumor is a new concept. In recent years, promising results have been reported for peritoneal mesothelioma and carcinomatosis of gastrointestinal and gynaecologic origin treated by this combined protocol. However, CRS with HIPEC and/or EPIC is a complex procedure associated with high rates of potentially life-threatening complications. Furthermore, disease progression following comprehensive treatment is not uncommon and represents a relevant cause of treatment failure. The present paper reviews the available information on early postoperative management and long-term follow-up in patients treated with CRS and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The peculiar clinical and biological alterations that can be expected during an uncomplicated postoperative course, as compared to standard digestive surgery, are discussed. Early recognition and appropriate management of the most common adverse events are addressed, in order to minimize the impact of treatment-related morbidity on survival and quality of life results. Since re-operative surgery with additional HIPEC, has proven to be useful in selected patients with recurrent disease, long-term surveillance aiming at early detection of postoperative disease progression has become a relevant issue. Current results on follow-up investigations are presented.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in treatment of gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis

Although gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis is associated with poor prognosis and is generally treated with palliative systemic therapy, recent studies have shown that cytoreductive surgery（CRS） and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy（HIPEC） may prove to be an efficacious treatment option. In addition to reviewing the natural history of gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis, this mini-review examines literature on the efficacy of CRS and HIPEC as compared to chemotherapy and surgical options. Both randomized and nonrandomized studies were summarized with the emphasis focused on overall survival. In summary, CRS and HIPEC are indeed a promising treatment option for gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis and large randomized clinical trials are warranted.

Second-look surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for patients with colorectal cancer at high risk of peritoneal carcinomatosis:Does it really save lives?

The treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) of colorectal origin with cytoreductive surgery(CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has a 5-year recurrence-free or cure rate of at least 16%, so it is no longer labeled as a fatal disease, and offers prolonged survival for patients with a low peritoneal carcinomatosis index. Metachronous PC of colorectal origin is so predictable that there is a model which has been used to successfully determine the individual risk of each patient. Patients at risk are clearly identified; those with the highest risk have small peritoneal nodules present in the first surgery (70% probability of developing PC), ovarian metastases(60%), perforated tumor onset or intraoperative tumor rupture(50%). Current clinical, biological and imaging techniques still lack sufficient sensitivity to diagnose PC in its initial stages, when CRS plus HIPEC has a greater impact and a higher cure rate. Second-look surgery with HIPEC or prophylactic HIPEC at the time of the first intervention have been proposed as means of preventing and/or anticipating clinical or radiological relapse in at-risk patients. Both techniques have shown a significant decrease in peritoneal relapses and should be considered essential weapons in the management of colorectal cancer.

Current status and future strategies of cytoreductive surgery plus intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis

This article is to offer a concise review on the use of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Traditionally, PC was treated with systemic chemotherapy alone with very poor response and a median survival of less than 6 mo. With the establishment of several phase Ⅱ studies, a new trend has been developed toward the use of CRS plus IPHC as a standard method for treating selected patients with PC, in whom sufficient cytoreduction could be achieved. In spite of the need for more high quality phase Ⅲ studies, there is now a consensus among many surgical oncology experts throughout the world about the use of this new treatment strategy as standard care for colorectal cancer patients with PC. This review summarizes the current status and possible progress in future.

Selection criteria for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in gastric cancer

Peritoneal carcinomatosis in gastric cancer is associated with a dismal prognosis.Systemic chemotherapy is not effective because of the existence of a blood-peritoneal barrier.Cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy can improve survival and quality of life in selected patients.Patient selection for this multimodal approach is one of the most critical issues,and calls for interdisciplinary evaluation by radiologists,medical and surgical oncologists,and anaesthetists.This article sets forth criteria for selection of gastric cancer patients suffering from peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: Where are we?

Peritoneal surface malignancies are generally associated with poor prognosis. In daily clinical routine, systemic chemotherapy is still considered the only reasonable therapy despite of encouraging results of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) along with intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (HIPEC). The Achilles heel of CRS and HIPEC is appropriate patient selection and precise surgical technique preventing patients from excessive morbidity and mortality. Given these findings, new concepts of second look surgery for high risk patients allow detection of peritoneal spread ahead of clinical symptoms or presence of peritoneal masses reducing perioperative morbidity. In addition, personalized intraperitoneal chemotherapy might further improve outcome by appreciating individual tumor biology. These days, every physician should be aware of CRS and HIPEC for treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies. Since there is now sufficient data for the superiority of CRS and HIPEC to systemic chemotherapy in selected patients, our next goal should be providing this strategy with minimal morbidity and mortality even in the presence of higher tumor load.

The impact of urological resection and reconstruction on patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Objective:Cytoreductive surgery(CRS)and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC)are increasingly being used to treat peritoneal malignancies.Urological resections and reconstruction(URR)are occasionally performed during the surgery.We aim to evaluate the impact of these procedures on peri-operative outcomes of CRS and HIPEC patients.Methods:A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of all patients who underwent CRS-HIPEC from April 2001 to February 2016 was performed.Outcomes between patients who had surgery involving,and not involving URR were compared.Primary outcomes were the rate of major complications and the duration of stay in the intensive care unit(ICU)and hospital.Secondary outcomes were that of overall survival(OS)and prognostic factors that would indicate a need for URR.Results:A total of 214 CRS-HIPEC were performed,21 of which involved a URR.Baseline clinical characteristics did not vary between the groups(URR vs.No URR).Urological resections comprised of 52%bladder resections,24%ureteric resections,and 24%involving both bladder and ureteric resections.All bladder defects were closed primarily while ureteric reconstructions consisted of two end-to-end anastomoses,one ureto-uretostomy,five direct implantations into the bladder and three boari flaps.URR were more frequently required in patients with colorectal peritoneal disease(p Z 0.029),but was not associated with previous pelvic surgery(76%vs.54%,p Z 0.065).Patients with URR did not suffer more serious complications(14%vs.24%,p Z 0.42).ICU(2.2 days vs.1.4 days,p Z 0.51)and hospital stays(18 days vs.25 days,p Z 0.094)were not significantly affected.Undergoing a URR did not affect OS(p Z 0.99),but was associated with increased operation time(570 min vs.490 min,p Z 0.046).Conclusion:While concomitant URR were associated with an increase in operation time,there were no significant differences in postoperative complications or OS.Patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases are more likely to require a URR compared to other primary tumours,and needs to be considered during pre-operative planning.

Cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal peritoneal metastases

AIM:To systematically review the available evidence regarding cytoreductive surgery(CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy(IPC) for colorectal peritoneal metastases(CPM).METHODS:An electronic literature search was carried out to identify publications reporting oncological outcome data(overall survival and/or disease free survival and/or recurrence rates)following CRS and IPC for treatment of CPM.Studies reporting outcomes following CRS and IPC for cancer subtypes other than colorectal were only included if data were reported independently for colorectal cancer-associated cases;in addition studies reporting outcomes for peritoneal carcinomatosis of appendiceal origin were excluded.RESULTS:Twenty seven studies,published between1999 and 2013 with a combined population of 2838patients met the predefined inclusion criteria.Included studies comprised 21 case series,5 case-control studies and 1 randomised controlled trial.Four studies provided comparative oncological outcome data for patients undergoing CRS in combination with IPC vs systemic chemotherapy alone.The primary indication for treatment was CPM in 96%of cases(2714/2838)and recurrent CPM(rCPM)in the remaining 4%(124/2838).In the majority of included studies(20/27)CRS was combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC).In 3 studies HIPEC was used in combination with early post-operative intraperitoneal chemotherapy(EPIC),and 2 studies used EPIC only,following CRS.Two studies evaluated comparative outcomes with CRS+HIPEC vs CRS+EPIC for treatment of CPM.The delivery of IPC was performed using an"open"or"closed"abdomen approach in the included studies.CONCLUSION:The available evidence presented in this review indicates that enhanced survival times can be achieved for CPM after combined treatment with CRS and IPC.

Peritoneal adhesions after laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery

Although laparoscopy has the potential to reduce peritoneal trauma and post-operative peritoneal adhesion formation,only one randomized controlled trial and a few comparative retrospective clinical studies have addressed this issue.Laparoscopy reduces de novo adhesion formation but has no efficacy in reducing adhesion reformation after adhesiolysis.Moreover,several studies have suggested that the reduction of de novo post-operative adhesions does not seem to have a significant clinical impact.Experimental data in animal models have suggested that CO2 pneumoperitoneum can cause acute peritoneal inflammation during laparoscopy depending on the insufflation pressure and the surgery duration.Broad peritoneal cavity protection by the insufflation of a low-temperature humidified gas mixture of CO2,N2O and O2 seems to represent the best approach for reducing peritoneal inflammation due to pneumoperitoneum.However,these experimental data have not had a significant impact on the modification of laparoscopic instrumentation.In contrast,surgeons should train themselves to perform laparoscopy quickly,and they should complete their learning curves before testing chemical anti-adhesive agents and antiadhesion barriers.Chemical anti-adhesive agents have the potential to exert broad peritoneal cavity protection against adhesion formation,but when these agents are used alone,the concentrations needed to prevent adhesions are too high and could cause major postoperative side effects.Anti-adhesion barriers have been used mainly in open surgery,but some clinical data from laparoscopic surgeries are already available.Sprays,gels,and fluid barriers are easier to apply in laparoscopic surgery than solid barriers.Results have been encouraging with solid barriers,spray barriers,and gel barriers,but they have been ambiguous with fluid barriers.Moreover,when barriers have been used alone,the maximum protection against adhesion formation has been no greater than 60%.A recent small,randomized clinical trial suggested that the combination of broad peritoneal cavity protection with local application of a barrier could be almost 100%effective in preventing post-operative adhesion formation.Future studies should confirm the efficacy of this global strategy in preventing adhesion formation after laparoscopy by focusing on clinical end points,such as reduced incidences of bowel obstruction and abdominal pain and increased fertility.

Rationale and techniques of cytoreductive surgery and peritoneal chemohyperthermia

The evolution of loco-regional treatments has occurred in the last two decades and has deeply changed the natural history of primitive and secondary peritoneal surface malignancies.Several phase Ⅱ-Ⅲ studies have proved the effectiveness of the combination of cytoreductive surgery with peritoneal chemohyperthermia.Cytoreductive surgery allows the reduction of the neoplastic mass and increases tumoral chemosensitivity.The development of chemohyperthermia finds its origins in the necessity to exceed the limits of intraperitoneal chemotherapy performed in normothermia.It permits a continuous high concentration gradient of chemotherapeutic drugs between the peritoneal cavity and the plasma compartment to and a more uniform distribution throughout the abdominal cavity compared to systemic administration.