Who is considered
Patients with peritoneal disease from appendiceal tumours and pseudomyxoma peritonei, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, mesothelioma and selected gastric cancer, where imaging and fitness suggest complete cytoreduction is possible.
- Peritoneal Cancer Index assessed on imaging and at surgery
- Completeness of cytoreduction (CC-0/CC-1) is the key determinant of benefit
- Cardiac, respiratory, renal and nutritional assessment beforehand
- Decision made jointly with medical oncology at the tumour board
What the operation involves
A long open procedure — commonly six to twelve hours — combining peritonectomy of affected surfaces with resection of involved organs, then circulated heated chemotherapy before or after reconstruction. Planned ICU care follows.
Recovery and honest expectations
Hospital stay is typically ten to fourteen days with a real risk of complications that is quantified individually. CRS-HIPEC can offer long-term control in well-selected patients, but it is not appropriate for widespread unresectable disease and no guarantee of cure is offered.
Common questions
- Can HIPEC be done robotically?
- Selected low-volume disease is managed with minimally invasive cytoreduction, but most cases require an open approach to inspect and clear every peritoneal surface.
- Is HIPEC the same as normal chemotherapy?
- No. It is a single intraoperative delivery of heated drug directly into the abdomen and does not replace systemic chemotherapy where that is indicated.
This page is general education, reviewed by Dr. Ishaan Allahabadi, MCh Surgical Oncology (Edge Hill, UK) · MS Surgery · MBBS (Accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of England). It is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Treatment decisions are made after reviewing your imaging and pathology, in a multidisciplinary tumour board.