Quality of Life Analysis in SRC + HIPEC Patients: Single-Center Experience

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a critical treatment for peritoneal surface malignancies.
• While the oncological benefits of CRS/HIPEC are recognized, comprehensive data on longitudinal quality of life (QoL) post-treatment are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the longitudinal QoL trajectories in patients during the first two years following CRS/HIPEC.
• To conduct exploratory comparisons of QoL recovery based on clinical characteristics.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective single-center cohort study involving 144 adult patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC.
• QoL was assessed preoperatively and at multiple time points up to 24 months postoperatively using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-CR29 questionnaires.
• Descriptive statistical analyses, including Friedman tests and post hoc Nemenyi comparisons, were used.

Main Results:

• Significant time-dependent changes were observed across multiple QoL domains, with the most substantial decline occurring in the early postoperative period (day 14).
• Gradual improvement in several QoL domains was noted, but recovery did not consistently reach preoperative levels within the two-year follow-up period.
• Exploratory analyses indicated that major postoperative complications were associated with more pronounced early QoL impairment and greater symptom burden.

Conclusions:

• CRS/HIPEC leads to a significant early postoperative decline in QoL, followed by a gradual, non-linear, and domain-specific recovery that may not reach baseline levels.
• Early QoL impairment might be more severe in patients experiencing major complications, though this requires prospective validation.
• Longitudinal QoL assessment is crucial for understanding postoperative recovery patterns after CRS/HIPEC.