Patients who undergo cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can return to an acceptable performance status (PS) and quality of life 3 months postoperative.

An HIPEC specific questionnaire was developed based on the validated Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Questionnaire. Each patient was contacted and questionnaire completed. An averaged score was calculated and stratified to an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS. A retrospective chart review gathered patient characteristics and correlated to the patient's 3 months postoperative PS.

Between October 2011 and July 2014, 43 patients underwent complete CRS with HIPEC. The most common indications for surgery were colorectal (35%) and appendiceal malignancy (47%). Average scores were: physical well-being 15.4 of 20, social well-being 17.5 of 20, recovery 15 of 20, mental well-being 13.4 of 20, and functional well-being 18.1 of 24. These correlated to an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS of 1, 0, 1, 1, and 1. Patient's age (P = .235), operative length (P = .181), hospital duration (P = .43), complications or peritoneal carcinomatosis index (P = .815) demonstrated no significance relative to postoperative PS.

Patients can recovery well from CRS with HIPEC. It is possible to return to an acceptable functional status within 3 months postoperative. Age, operative time, length of hospital stay, or peritoneal carcinomatosis index have no prohibitive effects on a long-term recovery.