Do patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC for peritoneal malignancy need parenteral nutrition?

BACKGROUND: To analyse the duration of parenteral nutrition (PN) in patients treated for peritoneal malignancy with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) over a 2 year period at a single UK National referral centre. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospective data for all patients (n=321) who underwent CRS and HIPEC for peritoneal malignancy at the Peritoneal Malignancy Institute Basingstoke between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2015. Duration of PN was compared between primary tumour site (appendix, colorectal, mesothelioma and other); completeness of CRS (complete CRS vs. major tumour debulking) and pre-operative nutritional assessment measures (including Mid Upper Arm Circumference). RESULTS: The median duration of PN was 9 days (range 2–87 days). A total of 13 % of patients had PN for less than 7 days and 6 % for 5 days or less. There was no significant difference in duration of PN between the different tumour sites. Two factors that may increase the duration of PN include having major tumour debulking (MTD) and a baseline MUAC<23.5 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC for peritoneal malignancy required PN for more than 7 days with poor pre-operative nutritional status and inability to achieve complete cytoreduction predictors of prolonged PN requirements.