Complications in the use of intra-abdominal 32P for ovarian carcinoma

From 1982 through 1989, 94 patients at the University of Louisville with ovarian neoplasm had abdominal instillation of 15 mCi chromic 32P as part of their management. The timing of the 32P was immediately postoperative in 55 patients and delayed greater than 24 hr in 39 patients. This is an analysis of factors contributing to gastrointestinal (GI) complications. GI complications were graded according to RTOG guidelines. There was a total of 11 GI complications grade 3 or worse for an overall incidence of 12%. Factors analyzed include timing of 32P delivery, age, stage, number of previous surgeries, use of Hyskon at surgery, addition of external beam radiation, and subsequent use of chemotherapy. There were significantly fewer complications when 32P was given on the same day as surgery than when 32P administration was delayed more than 12 hr following surgery (4% vs 21%), P = 0.007. This difference held significance when adjusted for the number of previous surgeries, use of Hyskon, external beam radiation, and stage. None of the other factors had a significant effect on complication rate. There have been no incidences of contamination even though 32P instillation in the immediate post-operative period had increased risk of contamination due to wound leakage or reoperation. In our experience, the delivery of 32P in the immediate postoperative period resulted in a significant reduction in abdominal complications.