HIPEC (hyperthermic intraoperative chemotherapy)
Many cancers spread to the inner lining of the abdomen called the peritoneum. These include cancers originating from the appendix, colon, ovary, stomach as well as the peritoneum itself (mesothelioma). Sometimes the cancer does not go anywhere else but can cause severe pain, fluid (ascites) and bowel obstruction. Cancers involving the peritoneum are associated with considerable morbidity and decreased survival. Patients rarely survive more than 1-2 years with intravenous chemotherapy alone. As a result these patients are particularly challenging to manage.
