Systematic review of the Sugarbaker procedure for pseudomyxoma peritonei

BACKGROUND: Pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare progressive disease process within the peritoneum, is characterized by an abundance of mucinous fluid; if left untreated, the condition is fatal. The aim of this article is to assess the clinical effectiveness and costs of the Sugarbaker procedure for pseudomyxoma peritonei. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature up to April 2004 was undertaken, with modelling of costs. RESULTS: Five retrospective case-series reports met the inclusion criteria. Survival after operation was approximately 95 per cent at 2 years and 60-68 per cent at 10 years, with 41-52 per cent of patients having no evidence of disease at the end of follow-up. A Monte Carlo simulation model estimated the marginal cost for one patient over a maximum of 5 years to be about pound 9700 (standard deviation pound 1300). CONCLUSION: Evidence of the effectiveness of the Sugarbaker procedure for pseudomyxoma peritonei is limited in quantity and quality, but suggests there may be some benefit for patients. The marginal cost of the operation is about pound 9700, provided that trained and experienced staff are available to perform the procedure.