Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)
What is HIPEC?
HIPEC, a common acronym for Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, offers a different approach to fighting abdominal cancers. Also considered “hot chemotherapy,” it involves delivering heated chemotherapy into your abdominal cavity, targeting cancer.
This treatment is particularly relevant for you if you're battling advanced ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, or other specific abdominal cancers such as cancer of the appendix, stomach, liver, or abdominal Mesothelioma and Sarcoma.
HIPEC is a promising curative treatment, offering a pathway toward both prolonging and enriching your life.
HIPEC involves a two-step process: cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. During the cytoreductive surgery, the surgeon removes visible tumors and cancerous tissue from the abdominal cavity.
This is followed by the delivery of heated chemotherapy, pumped directly into the abdominal cavity.
The combination of surgery and heated chemotherapy is designed to target and eliminate any remaining cancer cells that may not be visible to the naked eye.
The chemotherapy solution used in HIPEC is heated to a temperature between 105-109 degrees Fahrenheit.
Elevated temperature enhances the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drugs and helps to penetrate and destroy cancer cells more efficiently.
From the first consultation to postoperative care, you will have a dedicated health care team to support you through every step. At CHRISTUS, our priority is to ensure you are as informed and comfortable as possible through your journey with HIPEC.
- Targeted Treatment: HIPEC delivers chemotherapy directly to the affected area, minimizing the systemic impact on the rest of the body. Because the chemotherapy drug solution is contained in the abdominal cavity, the effects of chemotherapy are minimalized on the rest of the body.
- Enhanced Chemotherapy Efficacy: The combination of surgery and heated chemotherapy enhances the effectiveness of the treatment, improving the chances of eliminating cancer cells. Surgeons are also able to use a much higher dose of chemotherapy, because of the method of delivery.
- Reduced Side Effects from Chemotherapy: Since the chemotherapy is targeted, patients may experience fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy, which is delivered intravenously, through the veins and into the bloodstream.
- Improved Quality of Life: For some patients, HIPEC offers the potential for improved quality of life by effectively managing cancer while minimizing the impact on surrounding healthy tissues.
The recovery process after HIPEC can vary from patient to patient, depending on factors such as the extent of the surgery and the patient’s overall health.
Typically, patients are admitted to the ICU for the first 24-48 hours after the procedure for rehydration and monitoring. Once stable, patients can then move to the surgical floor for standard post-op recovery.
Patients can expect to stay in the hospital for 7-14 days after the procedure to be monitored closely.
In the immediate postoperative period, patients may experience discomfort, fatigue, and temporary changes in bowel function.
Pain management and supportive care are essential components of the recovery process. Patients are encouraged to gradually resume normal activities under the guidance of their health care team.
The duration of a HIPEC procedure can vary, with the entire process typically taking 4-12 hours.
Cytoreductive surgery may take four or more hours, and the HIPEC portion of the procedure typically takes 90 minutes, depending on the specific treatment plan and the response of the patient.
A multidisciplinary team of highly trained medical professionals performs this specialized cancer treatment. If you are considering HIPEC, you should find health care providers with specific expertise in surgical oncology.
Surgical oncologists are medical doctors who specialize in the surgical management of cancer and are specifically trained to perform the complex procedures involved with HIPEC.
A surgical oncologist typically undergoes extensive education and training, including medical school, a surgical residency, and specialized fellowships. This rigorous training equips surgical oncologists with the skills and knowledge needed to perform HIPEC procedures safely and effectively.
Since this treatment is intricately tied to surgical interventions, specialized experience in surgery and oncology is crucial for better outcomes.
Collaborative Team Approach to Treatment
The multifaceted nature of HIPEC treatment may involve collaboration with medical oncologists, who specialize in cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, or other specialists such as radiologists or pathologists.
A collaborative team approach ensures patients receive comprehensive care, from the initial evaluation and diagnosis to the surgical procedure and postoperative care.
When looking for a specialist to perform HIPEC, you should look for health care facilities that have a dedicated team of specialists who are experienced in the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies, or cancer within the peritoneal cavity. This is the space between the organs in the abdomen.
Specialists who can perform HIPEC are typically experienced in performing cytoreductive surgery, the surgical component of HIPEC, and should be well-versed in the intricacies of intraperitoneal chemotherapy delivery.
CHRISTUS Health recognizes the significance of providing HIPEC under the expertise of surgical oncologists with specialized training in the field.
Patients can trust that the health care specialists performing HIPEC at CHRISTUS have undergone comprehensive education and extensive surgical training to ensure the highest standard of care for our patients who are facing complex abdominal cancers.