Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a highly concentrated, heated chemotherapy treatment delivered directly to the abdomen at the time of surgery. Unlike intravenous chemotherapy, which circulates throughout the entire body, HIPEC delivers high concentrations of chemotherapy directly to cancer cells in the abdomen. This allows for higher doses of intra-abdominal chemotherapy to help destroy microscopic cancer cells that remain in the abdomen after surgery.

Before a patient receives HIPEC treatment, Dr. Llaguna performs cytoreductive surgery to remove visible tumors from within the abdomen. Once the surgery is complete, the heated chemotherapy solution is delivered to the abdomen to destroy any remaining cancer cells. The solution is 41 to 42 degrees Celsius, about the temperature of a warm bath; it’s circulated throughout the abdomen for approximately 90 minutes. The solution is then drained and the abdomen is closed.

HIPEC is a treatment option for people who have an advanced surface spread of cancer within the abdomen, without disease involvement outside of the abdomen. The most commonly treated diseases are pseudomyxoma peritonei, mesothelioma, colon cancer, appendiceal cancer, ovarian cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer.