Successful palliation of malignant ascites from peritoneal mesothelioma by laparoscopic intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy

Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy & Percutaneous Techniques. 2008 Aug;18(4):426-8. [Link]

Patriti A, Cavazzoni E, Graziosi L, Pisciaroli A, Luzi D, Gullà N, Donini A.

Section of General and Emergency Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. albertopatriti@gmail.com

Abstract

A variety of options have been proposed to treat malignant ascites but most of them have failed to reach a significant impact in terms of palliation. Laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (LHIPEC) could represent a good therapeutic tool for patients in whom medical therapies have failed and peritoneovenous shunting is contraindicated. Here we present a case of a 49-year-old woman with malignant ascites secondary to peritoneal spreading of a right pleural mesothelioma. After failure of medical therapy, the patient underwent LHIPEC with Cisplatin 25 mg/m/L and Doxorubicin 7 mg/m/L. A dramatic reduction of ascites was documented in the postoperative period and the patient experienced complete abdominal symptom relief. Ascites did not recur during a follow-up period of 6 months. LHIPEC could be a good therapeutic option to palliate malignant ascites from mesothelioma in cases not eligible for a radical treatment. Further studies are needed to standardize dosage and perfusion parameters.