Overview
HIPEC, or Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, is a cutting-edge cancer treatment performed after surgery to remove visible tumours from the abdominal cavity. Colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, appendiceal cancer, and some gastric cancers are the most common types of cancer that spread to the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum). After cytoreductive surgery takes out as much tumour tissue as it can, a heated chemotherapy solution is spread throughout the abdominal cavity. To make the chemotherapy more effective at killing cancer cells and getting into tiny cancer cells, it is heated. HIPEC lets high-dose chemotherapy focus on cancer in one area while keeping the rest of the body safe.
Why It's Done
HIPEC is used to treat cancers that have spread throughout the abdomen but not to many distant organs. The goal is to get rid of any remaining microscopic cancer cells after the tumour has been taken out and lower the chance of the cancer coming back. It might help some people with peritoneal cancers live longer. HIPEC is often considered when standard systemic chemotherapy alone might not be enough.
What to Expect?
Before HIPEC, patients undergo many tests to determine eligibility. These tests include imaging studies like CT scans, blood tests, and a general fitness test. The procedure is done while the patient is asleep. To start, cytoreductive surgery takes out any visible tumour deposits from the abdominal cavity. After surgery, a special perfusion system circulates a heated chemotherapy solution through the abdomen for about 60 to 90 minutes. After that, the solution is drained, and the surgical cut is closed. The whole process could take a few hours. Patients are closely watched in the surgical or intensive care unit after surgery. Part of recovery is managing pain, preventing infections, and slowly getting back to eating. Depending on how well you recover, you may need to stay in the hospital for one to two weeks.
Recovery & Outlook
Because the procedure is so complicated, recovery can take longer than usual. It's common to feel tired and have stomach problems for a short time. HIPEC provides enhanced local cancer control and can markedly prolong survival in meticulously chosen patients.