Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a surgical cancer treatment that can be used on patients with cervical, uterine, ovarian and other types of gynecologic cancers.

The procedure is typically performed immediately after cancerous tumors or legions have been removed from the affected areas. It involves filling the abdominal cavity with a heated, highly concentrated chemotherapy solution and circulating it to kill any remaining cancer cells that may be in the tissues.

Heating the chemotherapy solution to temperatures slightly higher than normal body temperature can help it to more deeply penetrate the layers of cells of the peritoneum, which is the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.

BENEFITS OF HIPEC

Compared to traditional chemotherapy, HIPEC:

• Allows for a higher dose of chemotherapy drugs to more effectively attack cancer cells
• Is largely confined to the abdominal cavity where the cancer is located, so the chemotherapy is less likely to have toxic effects on the healthy organs and tissues in the rest of the body
• Is performed once in conjunction with tumor removal surgery instead of multiple times over several weeks or months

WHY TGH?

The Gynecologic Cancer Center at Tampa General Hospital is one of the most comprehensive cancer care programs in Florida. We create treatment plans uniquely tailored to each patient and recommend treatments such as HIPEC as part of a well-rounded approach to fighting gynecologic cancers. We are the first center in the area to perform HIPEC in large volumes with good outcomes, low post-operative complications and minimal risk factors.