[Managing side-effects of targeted therapies in renal cancer:surgical complications]

The principal surgical complication feared in a patient under anti-angiogenic targeted therapy is gastrointestinal perforation. It is therefore important to be alert to situations "potentially at risk" of perforation: diverticulitis, carcinomatosis, intra-abdominal abscess, history of external radiotherapy, colonoscopy in the 4 weeks preceding the treatment, inflammatory disease and gastrointestinal mucosal ulceration, colonic stent, NSAID. It is essential to make an early diagnosis, and for treatment to be conservative if possible, with nasogastric aspiration without surgery. Surgical treatment is only offered in the event of worsening or failure of medical treatment. The time periods between surgery and the initiation of anti-angiogenic treatment vary according to the medication. With bevacizumab: major surgery: 4 weeks; 6 weeks if the patient has comorbidities. Minor surgery (e.g. dental extraction): wait for the wound to heal. With insertion of a PAC, bevacizumab can be administered the day after the insertion if necessary. With TKI: it is recommended to wait for the scar to heal in cases of major surgery. There is no specific recommendation for mTOR inhibitors. The time periods between termination of an anti-angiogenic treatment and scheduling of surgery also vary depending on the medication. With bevacizumab: 6 to 8 weeks for scheduled surgery. In the event of emergency surgery, the surgeon must be aware of an increased risk of post-operative complications. With TKI, 2 days for sorafenib, and 4 days for sunitinib. There is no specific recommendation for mTOR inhibitors.