Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a surgical approach to managing some patients who have metastatic cancer to the peritoneum (the membrane which lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the abdominal organs). Selected patients may benefit from highly specialised CRS and HIPEC surgery when they have metastases in the peritoneum arising from colorectal, appendiceal, small bowel or ovarian cancer.

Surgery involves removal of all malignant nodules in the peritoneal cavity and may include removal of other affected organs such as bowel, gallbladder, spleen, uterus and ovaries. Following surgery, heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy is circulated in the abdominal cavity to eradicate microscopic disease. CRS and HIPEC is a major operation performed at a small number of centres in Australia due its complexity and the significant support services required for best patient outcomes. All patients are discussed in the Peritoneal Malignancy multidisciplinary team at RPA.

Dr Nabila Ansari and A/Prof Cherry Koh are key members of the peritoneal malignancy service at RPA hospital. They can best advise if CRS and HIPEC is an appropriate surgical intervention for patients with peritoneal malignancy.

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