Protective effect of intra-peritoneal epinephrine on postoperative renal function after cisplatin-based...

Intra-operative cisplatin-based intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (IPC) may alter renal function in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The aim of this study was to describe postoperative alteration of renal function after cisplatin-based IPC and to identify risk factors for moderate to severe acute renal failure.

This prospective observational study was carried out on 77 consecutive patients who underwent cisplatin-based IPC procedures, with (n=23) or without (n=54) intra-peritoneal epinephrine, for advanced ovarian cancer. Postoperative renal function was assessed using serial serum creatinine measurements and was based on serum creatinine changes from pre-operative values, according to the risk, injury, failure, loss, end-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) classification. Patients were divided into two groups according to postoperative renal function: patients with renal injury or failure (IF group) or patients with no renal alteration or renal risk (NR group). Clinical variables were compared between the IF and NR groups using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Postoperative acute change in renal function was observed in 34 (44.2%) patients (unimodal distribution), among whom 23 patients (29.8%) constituted the IF group. In univariate analysis, the absence of epinephrine in the IPC bath, a higher duration of severe hypotension, a lower postoperative blood protein level, and a lower volume of intra-operative diuresis were significantly associated with the occurrence of renal injury or failure. In multivariate analysis, the absence of epinephrine was the only factor associated with the occurrence of moderate to severe acute renal failure (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]=4.49 [1.36-14.80]).

Transient acute renal dysfunction after cisplatin-based IPC associated with cytoreductive surgery is frequent and intra-peritoneal epinephrine plays a protective role.