Psycho-oncological distress in patients with peritoneal surface malignancies treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Summary: Background: Patients with peritoneal metastases suffer from physical and psychological distress. The aim of our investigation was to identify highly distressed patients, collect demographic data, and examine correlations between distress score and clinical outcome. Methods: This retrospective analysis included all patients who were treated for peritoneal surface malignancies with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in our department. Psycho-oncological screening was conducted preoperatively. Results: From a total of 213 patients, 105 (49.3%) participated in the psycho-oncological screening. Women had a higher score (6.2 ± 2.6) compared to men (4.8 ± 3.4; p = 0.02). Age (p = 0.15) and Peritoneal Cancer Index (p = 0.90) had no significant influence on the score. The postoperative rate for surgical (19/73) or non-surgical complications (20/73) in highly distressed patients was comparable to patients with low distress (9/31, 11/31; p = 0.46, p = 0.28). Psychological problems due to sadness (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.69; p = 0.009), sleeplessness (OR 3.01; p = 0.004), and the physical ability to get around (OR 2.65; p = 0.01) were identified as having the greatest impact on distress scores. Conclusion: The mean distress score in patients with peritoneal surface malignancies is high (5.4 ± 2.7), is not related to the medical prognosis of the patients due to their underlying disease, and showed no correlation to the complication rate. Sadness and problems with sleep and getting around have a major influence on this score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]