Intraperitoneal ports placed at the time of bowel resection for treatment of ovarian cancer: Complications and surgical outcomes

Abstract

To determine if intraperitoneal (IP) ports placed concurrently with bowel resection during surgical treatment of ovarian cancer is associated with more complications than those ports placed without concurrent bowel resection. The medical records of all patients who had an IP port placed at our institution between 2005 and 2016 were reviewed. Two groups were analyzed: IP ports placed with bowel resection (IP-BR) and those without (IP). Of 306 patient charts reviewed, 31% had a surgery with IP port placement and concurrent bowel resection (IP-BR). Demographics were similar except for mean BMI (25.6 IP-BR vs 27.4 IP, p = 0.007). More IP-BR patients had stage IIIC disease (83.3% IP-BR vs 56.9% IP, p ≤0.01). Patients were cytoreduced to R0 in 48.7% IP-BR vs 56.4% IP (p = 0.253). For adjuvant treatment, IV chemotherapy was administered before IP chemotherapy in 90.4% IP-BR (median 2 cycles), and 50.3% IP, (median 2 cycles, p < 0.01). Ultimately 80.2% IP-BR (median 4 cycles) and 77.8% IP (median 5 cycles) received IP chemotherapy (p = 0.65). Rates of total IP port complications were similar (19.2% IP-BR vs 23.2% IP, p = 0.397), including IP port infections (0% IP-BR vs 0.7% IP, p = 0.5). Eleven percent of IP-BR patients had a bowel complication (e.g. obstruction or perforation) while IP port was in situ vs 2.7% IP (p = 0.01). Only 2.7% IP-BR and 6% IP discontinued IP chemotherapy due to IP port complication (p = 0.3). Patients who have IP ports placed concurrently with a bowel resection do not appear to have more complications, nor lower rates of IP chemotherapy administration.