New Research Looks at Quality of Life and Recovery After CRS/HIPEC for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Wang SL, Cui YR, Ma R, Li CH, Fang L, Wang YJ, Li Y. Quality of life in patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei treated with cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and implications for ERAS-informed rehabilitation. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2026 Aug;52(8):111871. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2026.111871. Epub 2026 May 8. PMID: 42247962.
What did the researchers study?
Researchers wanted to better understand how quality of life changes during the first year after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).
CRS/HIPEC can be an important treatment for PMP, but it is also a major procedure that can require a lengthy recovery. Understanding when patients experience the greatest challenges—and when they tend to improve—may help patients, caregivers and healthcare teams better prepare for recovery.
The study included 111 adults with PMP who underwent CRS/HIPEC. Researchers measured patients’ quality of life before surgery and then at:
1 week
1 month
3 months
6 months
9 months
12 months after surgery
They looked at physical, emotional, cognitive and social functioning, as well as symptoms such as fatigue, pain, shortness of breath, sleep difficulties, appetite loss and bowel problems.
What did they find?
Patients experienced the greatest decline in many areas of functioning during the first week after surgery. Physical functioning and the ability to carry out usual daily activities were particularly affected. Fatigue, pain, shortness of breath, sleep difficulties and appetite loss also worsened during this early recovery period.
Overall quality of life was lowest around one month after surgery and then improved steadily.
By 6 to 12 months after CRS/HIPEC, most measures of functioning and symptoms had returned to or approached the levels patients reported before surgery. At 12 months, overall quality of life was very close to its pre-surgery level, although some patients continued to report mild cognitive and bowel-related difficulties.
Why does this matter?
For patients and families considering or preparing for CRS/HIPEC, knowing what recovery may look like can help set realistic expectations.
This study suggests that the impact of CRS/HIPEC on quality of life can be substantial, particularly during the first weeks and months after surgery, but that many of these changes improve over time.
The findings also point to areas where additional support may be especially important during recovery, including pain control, nutrition, breathing and respiratory recovery, sleep and psychological support.
The researchers suggest that these findings could help inform Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) approaches and postoperative rehabilitation. However, the study did not test a specific rehabilitation program, so these recommendations should be viewed as potential priorities for supporting recovery rather than a proven recovery protocol.
Key Takeaways
Quality of life declined significantly in the early period after CRS/HIPEC for patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei.
Physical functioning and the ability to perform usual activities were among the areas most affected shortly after surgery.
Fatigue, pain, appetite loss, sleep difficulties and other symptoms were common during early recovery.
Quality of life generally improved over time, with most measures returning to or approaching pre-surgery levels within 6 to 12 months.
Some patients continued to experience mild cognitive and bowel-related symptoms at 12 months.
The findings may help patients and caregivers better understand the recovery timeline and help care teams identify areas where additional rehabilitation and supportive care may be beneficial.
Recovery after CRS/HIPEC varies from person to person. Patients should discuss their individual recovery plan, symptoms and supportive-care needs with their healthcare team.
