What Does HIPEC Surgery Include?

HIPEC, or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, is extensively used for treating cancer. Patients diagnosed with abdominal cancer are treated through this method. Large doses of chemotherapy drugs are administered within the abdomen. The HIPEC surgery is a major one, and patients require lots of time to recover from it completely.

Since these drugs are not toxic, they cannot move around the whole body, unlike traditional chemotherapy. Before the drugs are inserted within the patient’s body, they are heated at around 106 to 109 degrees Fahrenheit. It helps the drugs to enter the cells quickly and results in better functioning.

Variants of Cancer Treated by HIPEC Surgery

HIPEC surgery is for treating abdominal cancers. Besides, it can also treat fluid build-up and other diseases. Here is a comprehensive listing of all the cancer variants treated by HIPEC surgery. They are:

• Liver cancer

• Adrenal cancer

• Ovarian cancer

• Rectal and colon cancer

• Pancreatic cancer

• Appendix cancer

• Mesothelioma

• Peritoneal cancer

• Stomach or gastric ulcer (cancer)

Know-How Hipec Surgery is Performed

For treating all kinds of abdominal cancer, HIPEC surgery is performed. This treatment happens in two distinctive stages. They are:

• Cytoreductive Surgery

The first stage of HIPEC surgery is known as cytoreductive surgery. In this stage, patients remain under anesthesia when the surgical incisions are made in the abdomen. It allows the medical expert to have a clear look at the cancerous tumors and the diseased tissue. The visible diseases tissues and cancerous cells are entirely removed from those portions.

• HIPEC Procedure

The second stage of HIPEC surgery is known as the HIPEC procedure. After having the tumors and tissues wholly removed, a catheter containing chemotherapy drugs is inserted within the abdomen. It is then pumped deep into the patient’s abdominal cavity.

A perfusion machine is attached to the catheters for heating the chemotherapy drugs. This heat allows the drugs to flow and move in smoothly into the abdomen for an hour or two. The remaining drugs are drained out and rinsed with a salt solution before closing the incision.

How Long Does the HIPEC Surgery Take?

The time taken for performing HIPEC surgery might vary depending on how severely cancer has spread. It doesn't take much time if abdominal cancer remains in the initial stage. But if the cancer is in an advanced stage, it takes a much longer time for treatment.

Learn the Benefits of HIPEC Surgery

HIPEC surgery is a much more advanced method for treating abdominal cancer. Besides, it is not as toxic as the traditional methods of chemotherapy. Some of the benefits of HIPEC surgery are:

• The toxic side effects are lower because 90% of the chemotherapy drugs remain within the abdomen.

• It only requires a single treatment session. 

• The dose of chemotherapy is comparatively higher and more intense. So it has the capacity of destroying a more significant number of cancerous cells and tissues.

To Conclude

Patients diagnosed with cancer in their chest cavity and abdomen need HIPEC surgery. It is considered the primary treatment option as it is way more effective than chemotherapy and radiation therapy. People can always reach out to the efficient doctors of Max Hospitals for this treatment.