Multiple Small Bowel Perforations Secondary to Tumor Lysis—a Complication of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei in a Patient Undergoing Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Excerpt

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare and intractable malignancy which is found with an incidence of one to two per million. This condition is characterized by the accumulation of mucinous tumor cells within the abdomen and pelvis. Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) arising from a perforated epithelial tumor generally requires a combination of heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and cytoreductive surgery (CRS). Due to the indolent nature of PMP, it is diagnosed only during the advanced stage of the disease and adversely impacts quality of life. The procedure of HIPEC is a useful treatment but it does have significant postoperative morbidity and mortality [1]. Following surgery with HIPEC, the 5-year survival usually ranges from 62.5 to 100% for low-grade and 0 to 65% for high-grade disease [2]. …