Rebound hypothermia after cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) and cardiac arrest in immediate postoperative period: a report of two cases and review of literature

OBJECTIVES: Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) for peritoneal malignancies are complex surgeries marked with hemodynamic perturbations, temperature fluctuations, blood loss and metabolic disturbances in the intra-operative and post-operative period. In this report, we highlighted perioperative factors which may have led to cardiac arrest in immediate postoperative period and subsequent successful resuscitation in two patients with high volume peritoneal cancers who underwent CRS-HIPEC. CASE PRESENTATION: Both patients had a similar clinical course, characterized by massive blood and fluid loss, metabolic derangement, hemodynamic instability, long duration of surgery, post HIPEC rebound hypothermia and hypokalemia which need to be anticipated. CONCLUSIONS: We reviewed the literature related to postoperative hypothermia and other major complications after CRS-HIPEC and correlated the available literature with our findings.