Background and methods: Eight patients (seven clinically negative stage Ill ovarian cancer and one peritoneal mesothelioma) respectively underwent second-look laparoscopy for staging, adhesiolysis and insertion of an intraperitoneal catheter and fixation of a portal. All patients had received six courses of cisplatin-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy intravenously. At the end of the laparoscopic staging, a 5-mm catheter was inserted under direct vision through a 5-mm trocar in the abdomen. A preaponevrotic forceps was used to grasp the catheter and bring it to the portal, which is located on the intercostal aponevrosis 2 or 3 cm above the laparoscope entry.
Results: Although previously operated, laparoscopy was possible in all patients and the catheters were easily inserted. All patients received intraperitoneal chemotherapy on the second postoperative day. We did not observe any complication after a mean follow-up of 12 months.
Conclusions: Laparoscopic insertion of intraperitoneal catheters is a feasible and safe procedure but requires experience in laparoscopic surgery. In many cases it might preclude from performing non-useful laparotomies. It might help to reduce the hospital stay and the morbidity in relation to second-look laparotomies. Compared with the blind surgical technique of insertion of intraperitoneal catheters, this technique also allows intraabdominal staging. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to confirm our results.