Venous thromboembolic events following cytoreductive surgery for lower gastrointestinal neoplasia

Introduction: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) represent a high-risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to malignancy, prolonged surgery and immobility. We investigated the incidence of and risk factors for VTE following CRS/IPC.

Materials and methods: Data was analysed on 130 CRS/IPC performed over a 6-year period at a single centre, the Western Australian Peritonectomy Service (WAPS), on lower gastrointestinal neoplasia: pseudomyxoma peritoneii (PMP), colorectal cancer (CRC) and appendix cancer (AC). Data was analysed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify risk factors for VTE.

Results: 31 patients (24 %) experienced a VTE. The percentages of VTE among patients with PMP (n = 50), CRC (n = 53) and AC (n = 27) were 36 %, 17 % and 15 % respectively. 60 % of these cases were asymptomatic. The odds of VTE were higher for PMP patients than in patients with a other histopathology (OR=2.9, p = 0.01). Other significant risk factors for VTE on univariate analysis were PCI (OR=1.07, p = 0.001), pelvic dissection (OR=5.52, p = 0.001) and operation time (OR=1.36, p = 0.001).

Conclusion: This study demonstrates high rates of VTE in patients undergoing CRS/IPC. Patients with PMP have a three-fold higher risk of VTE compared to other malignancies (CRC+AC). As most VTE cases were asymptomatic, aggressive early investigation and intervention is indicated for patients undergoing CRS/IPC.