ABSTRACT
Postoperative complications commonly occur after Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). In CRS and HIPEC the number of intestinal anastomoses is an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity. Pulmonary complications are potentially serious and may necessitate management in the intensive care setting. Cardiac events occurring after CRS and HIPEC include ischaemic events and dysrhythmias. Bleeding may be due to the CRS itself, an underlying haematological problem or the HIPEC. Neutropenia, especially when accompanied by fever, is the most clinically significant haematological abnormality after CRS and HIPEC. In patients who have had previous thrombo-embolic events, Peritoneal Malignancy Institute Basingstoke has a long-standing policy of pre-operative insertion of an inferior vena cava filter, which is generally removed within 90 days, though many filters are left in situ indefinitely. Most cases of postoperative bleeding can be dealt with medically with blood transfusion, fresh frozen plasma or cryoprecipitate.
