The procedure for HIPEC Surgery
HIPEC surgery involves two stages:
- Surgically removing any visible tumor or cancer (CRS)
- Delivering heated chemotherapy drugs into the abdomen (HIPEC)
- Cytoreductive surgery: The surgeon performs standard surgical procedures to remove all visible cancers that can be removed from the peritoneal cavity before performing HIPEC.
- Administering HIPEC: After performing cytoreductive surgery, the surgeon will administer HIPEC therapy in the operating room.
A sterilised, heated chemotherapy solution (41-42 degrees Celsius) is administered to the abdomen for about an hour after any visible tumors have been removed in order to reach and kill any remaining cancer cells.
The solution is then removed from the abdomen, and the incision is closed with stitches. The HIPEC procedure attempts to eradicate any remaining cancer cells in an effort to lessen the typical side effects of chemotherapy.
In a nutshell, the first stage of HIPEC is cytoreductive surgery, which is followed by hot chemotherapy. This procedure greatly enhances drug absorption while having almost no negative effects on the rest of the body. Thus, it is simple to avoid the typical side effects of chemotherapy in this manner.
How the HIPEC machine operates
- Medical professionals insert catheters into the abdominal cavity and connect them to the perfusion system, which warms and circulates the chemotherapy solution throughout the body.
- As the solution flows through the device, a heating element raises the temperature to between 105 and 109 F. Cancer cell to start to break down around 104 F while normal cells can withstand heat up to 111 F.
- The doctor rubs the abdomen with his hands to make sure the fluid is well-combined. This procedure makes it easier for medications to reach any remaining cancer cells.
- The chemotherapy drugs are circulated between the patient and the perfusion system for about an hour.
- Medical professionals remove the body’s medication fluid after the chemotherapy bath is finished.
After cleaning the cavity primarily with a saline solution, the catheter is removed and the incision is then stitched shut. - Because surgery times vary, the entire procedure—including surgery and HIPEC—could take anywhere between six and eight hours to complete. The extent of the cancer’s spread within the abdomen determines how long the procedure will last.
The HIPEC recovery period varies depending on the patient, but it usually lasts 10 to 12 weeks. During the recuperation process, explains how to care for the incision wounds and speed up healing.
The worst part of the recovery process is fatigue. It will take at least two to three months before feeling like oneself again. It’s crucial to stay active (within reason) and eat well in the interim.