HIPEC, or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, is being used as a treatment option for certain late-stage cancers that have spread to the peritoneum, according to an Aug. 4 article from Ohio State Health and Discovery. The procedure combines cytoreductive surgery with a targeted, heated chemotherapy rinse in the abdominal cavity after visible tumors are removed.
HIPEC is performed during a single operation in which surgeons first remove all visible tumors from the abdomen. The abdominal cavity is then bathed with heated chemotherapy—typically at about 108 degrees—for 60 to 90 minutes through tubes placed during surgery. This method allows high concentrations of chemotherapy to target microscopic cancer cells while minimizing absorption into the bloodstream and reducing systemic side effects.
The procedure is most often used for cancers involving the peritoneum, including peritoneal mesothelioma and cancers originating in organs such as the colon, rectum, appendix, or ovaries that have spread within the abdominal cavity. Whether HIPEC is appropriate depends on factors such as cancer type and whether all visible tumors can be removed during surgery. Patients generally need to be in good overall health due to the complexity of the operation.
Compared with traditional systemic chemotherapy—which travels through the bloodstream—HIPEC delivers localized treatment directly into the abdomen where it can reach cancer cells more effectively within this region. Recovery from HIPEC can require a hospital stay of one to two weeks and may take up to six months or longer overall. Potential side effects include temporary changes in kidney function, bowel function, blood counts, taste changes, hair thinning, and wound issues.
If HIPEC is successful and all tumors are removed surgically beforehand, patients may experience longer periods without disease progression or relief from symptoms caused by tumor buildup. However, recurrence remains possible depending on individual circumstances such as cancer type and surgical outcomes.
A multidisciplinary team—including surgeons; medical and radiation oncologists; pathologists; anesthesiologists; nurses; operating room staff; and patient-care resource managers—is involved throughout planning and recovery for CRS/HIPEC procedures at academic medical centers like Ohio State Health and Discovery. The organization addresses societal issues related to health equity while providing care through hospitals and outpatient facilities as part of its mission advancing research innovation, education initiatives on wellness topics like substance use prevention, community involvement efforts across Ohio—and globally—as well as resources supporting patient care, according to the official website.
