HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy)

1. What is HIPEC?
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a specialized treatment in which heated chemotherapy is circulated inside the abdominal cavity to target microscopic cancer cells remaining after tumour removal.

2. When is HIPEC recommended?
HIPEC may be considered for selected patients with peritoneal surface malignancies, including certain colorectal, appendiceal, ovarian, gastric, and other cancers. Suitability depends on the cancer type, extent of disease, overall health, and whether adequate tumour removal is possible.

3. What is Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS)?
CRS is the surgical component of the treatment. The surgeon removes visible tumour deposits from the abdominal cavity and, when necessary, portions of affected organs or tissues.

4. How is HIPEC performed?
After cytoreductive surgery, heated chemotherapy solution is introduced into the abdominal cavity and circulated for a specified period. The solution is then removed before the surgical procedure is completed.

5. Why is chemotherapy heated?
Heat may enhance the effect of certain chemotherapy drugs and improve their penetration into superficial tumour deposits. Delivering chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity also allows high local drug exposure while limiting systemic exposure for some agents.

6. What tests are required before HIPEC?
Evaluation may include CT or MRI, PET-CT in selected cases, tumour markers, pathology review, blood tests, and assessment of overall fitness for major surgery. In some patients, diagnostic laparoscopy may be used to determine whether complete cytoreduction is feasible.

7. How long does HIPEC treatment take?
CRS combined with HIPEC is a major procedure and can take several hours, sometimes substantially longer depending on the extent of tumour involvement and number of organs requiring treatment.

8. What is recovery like after CRS and HIPEC?
Hospital recovery is generally longer than after routine abdominal surgery. Patients may require intensive monitoring initially, followed by gradual nutritional rehabilitation, mobilisation, and management of bowel and other organ function.

9. What are the possible risks?
Potential complications include bleeding, infection, blood clots, bowel or anastomotic complications, kidney problems, electrolyte abnormalities, nutritional difficulties, and complications related to extensive abdominal surgery and chemotherapy. HIPEC should therefore be performed at experienced specialist centres.

10. How can Medavelle help?
Medavelle can coordinate review by an experienced surgical oncology team, arrange assessment of pathology and imaging, determine whether CRS-HIPEC evaluation is appropriate, obtain a personalized treatment estimate, and assist with hospital, travel, and treatment coordination in India.