What Is Cytoreductive Surgery With HIPEC?
Doctors often recommend a mesothelioma surgery called cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to their peritoneal mesothelioma patients.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is found in the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum) and is caused by ingesting asbestos fibers, accounting for around 20-25% of all mesothelioma cases.
Cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC is the only curative (meant to extend a patient’s life) surgical option available to patients with peritoneal mesothelioma.
Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with HIPEC is a two-part procedure:
- The first part involves invasive surgery to remove visible tumors from the abdomen through a process called debulking.
- The second part of the procedure involves hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which is a process that flushes the abdominal cavity with a warm chemotherapy agent.
HIPEC cytoreductive surgery was developed in the 1980s by oncologist (cancer doctor) Dr. Paul Sugarbaker. He has seen success in using this two-part procedure over 1,500 times.
Today, many mesothelioma doctors refer to the method of using cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC as the ‘Sugarbaker Technique’.
Quick Facts About Cytoreductive Surgery With HIPEC
- Dr. Sugarbaker, the pioneer of cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC, has successfully performed the procedure over 1,500 times.
- Intraoperative chemotherapy avoids many side effects typically caused by regular chemotherapy such as nausea and hair loss.
- This procedure is considered the most effective form of treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma, with a clear trend towards survival for those suffering from the disease.
- Currently, cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC is the only effective treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma.