The right candidate for HIPEC surgery is someone suffering from peritoneal cancer that is limited to the abdominal region and not spread to the other body parts. The patient has a healthy heart, lungs, and kidney function and is fit for surgery. Moreover, there should be no major organ failure or severe complications.

Synopsis
HIPEC is an oncological procedure used to treat tumours in the abdominal cavity. In this procedure, surgeons remove cancerous tumours and then give heated chemotherapy drugs to the abdominal region. Here, we will provide complete information about this procedure’s risks, benefits, and complications.
Introduction
HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) is an advanced procedure to treat cancers that have spread to the peritoneal cavity (Abdomen) from other body parts. It involves surgical removal of tumours and giving heated chemotherapy to kill the remaining cancer cells. It is a useful treatment for abdominal cancers that are difficult to treat with conventional chemotherapy. You should always consult the top HIPEC specialists at Gleneagles Hospitals for HIPEC surgery in Bangalore.
Who needs HIPEC?
HIPEC is recommended for people who have metastatic cancer. The cancer from another body part spreads to the abdominal cavity; then surgeons consider this treatment. Before recommending this procedure, the doctor will check if you have any other medical problems, your overall physical health, your surgical history, and the type of cancer that has spread to the abdominal cavity.
How does this treatment work?
HIPEC targets the cancerous cells in the abdominal cavity. In this treatment, chemotherapy drugs are heated up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit (41 to 43 degrees Celsius). Then, the drugs are directly injected into the abdominal cavity, targeting tumours that cannot be treated using usual chemotherapy. The continuous flow of heated chemotherapy drugs washes the abdominal cavity thoroughly.
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Procedure Details of HIPEC
During HIPEC procedure
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) includes the following steps: The doctor will give you general anaesthesia so that you do not feel pain during the procedure. The surgeon will start by making an incision in the abdominal cavity to remove the tumour cells and affected tissue.
Further, he will insert a catheter through the incision into the abdomen. The catheter will be connected to a machine that heats the chemotherapy drugs to 108 degrees F.
A pump will be used to circulate the chemotherapy drug inside your abdomen in such a way that it rinses your abdominal cavity thoroughly. It may take several hours to complete the procedure, depending on the spread of cancerous cells into your abdominal cavity. Once the treatment is complete, they will rinse the abdominal cavity with saline to drain the chemotherapy drugs. In the end, the surgeon will then carefully close the incisions.
After the Procedure
After the procedure, you will be shifted to the recovery room. A feeding tube may be inserted to feed you while you recover. You will be given clear liquids and soft foods.
You may have to stay in the hospital for up to two weeks after the procedure for a complete recovery. Early mobilisation is started to prevent complications. Pain medications will be given through IV to reduce pain and discomfort. You have to visit the hospital for a regular follow-up to track recovery and discuss further management.

Benefits of HIPEC
Benefits include the following:
There are fewer side effects as compared to traditional chemotherapy because most effects of the chemotherapy drugs remain in the abdomen and it is safely absorbed by the body. The small amount is flushed out easily.
Larger doses of chemotherapy drugs can be given, which can easily destroy more cancerous cells remaining after surgery.
The treatment can be completed in one session as compared to traditional chemotherapy in which several sessions are required over a few weeks.
Chemotherapy is given to the affected area only and the effect of drugs does not affect the other body parts. It is localised to the abdominal cavity and cannot cross the peritoneum that lines the abdominal cavity.
It penetrates the deeper cells, resulting in effective treatment outcomes. The survival rate is better by using this type of treatment as compared to traditional chemotherapy.
Risks & Complications
The most common risks of any surgery are infection and bleeding. The risk of HIPEC depends on the type of cancer and chemotherapy drugs used for treatment. The common side effects of chemotherapy drugs include:
- Weight loss
- Constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Fatigue
- Depression
Why Choose Gleneagles Hospital for HIPEC Surgery?
Gleneagles Hospital is a well-known hospital known for its advanced treatment methods. It offers the best in class oncology services, including Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC). If you are searching for the best hospital for HIPEC surgery in Bangalore, you must consider visiting Gleneagles Hospital. Some reasons to choose this hospital are:
- Specialised HIPEC Centers: Gleneagles Hospital has dedicated HIPEC centres specifically designed to treat advanced abdominal cancers. These centres are equipped with world-class treatment facilities and state-of-the-art infrastructure for complex cancers. Doctors use the best techniques to achieve precision and high success rates. They use advanced surgical equipment to give controlled chemotherapy.
- Experienced Surgical Team: The hospital has an experienced and specialised surgical team to handle the complex HIPEC procedure. The doctors have expertise in HIPEC treatment, extensive experience in performing cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC, and sufficient training in handling advanced peritoneal cancer. The doctors use a multidisciplinary approach, and the team includes medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, anesthesiologists, and critical care specialists.
- Advanced & Cutting-edge Technology: Gleneagles Hospital is well-equipped with advanced, cutting-edge technology. Our doctors use the latest, evidence-based treatment methods to get the best results. They also use minimally invasive techniques wherever needed to reduce recovery time.
- Comprehensive Care: The doctors offer comprehensive care to the patients. They use a holistic and patient-oriented approach to treat patients suffering from cancer. Our specialists work together to design an effective & customised treatment plan based on the patient’s needs. We also offer integrated supportive care, including psychological support, nutritional guidance, and physiotherapy.
- World-Class Facilities: Gleneagles has world-class facilities, including state-of-the-art ICUs for post-surgery care and monitoring. It also has private rooms for patients to recover quickly and stay comfortable during treatment.
Conclusion
HIPEC is a complicated treatment that is used to treat peritoneal cancers. It involves two stages. In the first stage, tumour cells are surgically removed by a surgeon, and in the second step, surgeons use chemotherapy drugs at a high temperature to destroy the remaining cancer cells. It is an effective treatment for cancers that have spread to the peritoneal cavity from other body parts. It increases the survival rate and has fewer side effects as compared to traditional chemotherapy. You must visit the Gleneagles to receive the most advanced, safe, and effective HIPEC surgery in Bangalore.
Our Doctors
View allDr Rajeev Vijayakumar
Sr Consultant - Medical Oncologist, Hemato Oncologist & BMT physician
MBBS,DNB (Gen Medicine),DNB (Medical Oncology),MRCP (UK),ESMO Certified Medical Oncology
Experience: 20+ Years
Medical Oncology,Hemato-oncology and BMT
Bengaluru, Kengeri
Bengaluru, Richmond RoadDr Govind Eriat
Consultant- Hematology & BMT Medicine
MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), FRCP (UK), Fellowship in Leukemia/BMT? (Vancouver)
Dr Kirankumar Sajjanshetty
Consultant - Medical Oncologist
MBBS, MD (Radiotherapy), DM (Medical Oncology), ECMO (Medical Oncology)
Dr Prerana Nesargi
Consultant - Paediatric Oncologist, Hematologist & BMT Physician
MBBS, MD (Paediatrics), DM (Paediatric Oncology)
Frequently Asked Questions
You may have to stay in the hospital for 10-14 days, depending on the individual condition of the patient. It may take 4-6 weeks to recover. The patient may experience fatigue and dietary adjustments in the initial period.
You must visit the hospital for regular check-ups with oncologists and surgeons to monitor recovery and progress.
The doctor will recommend some blood tests and imaging scans such as CT scan and MRI before surgery to evaluate your health. You may have to take a liquid diet or laxatives before surgery. The doctor may recommend some exercises to build strength and for quick recovery post-surgery.
You may have to stop taking some medications, including blood thinners or immunosuppressive drugs, before surgery. Moreover, you must stop smoking and drinking alcohol before surgery.
HIPEC surgery is used to treat certain types of metastatic cancers, such as:
- Colorectal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Liver cancer
- Adrenal cancer
- Appendix cancer
Cancers that start in the abdominal cavity, such as peritoneal mesothelioma and primary peritoneal cancer.
HIPEC is a two-step procedure in which surgeons remove the visible tumours surgically. In the second step, chemotherapy drugs are given directly to the abdomen, unlike traditional chemotherapy, which affects the entire body. In the HIPEC procedure, chemotherapy involves a high temperature for deeper penetration and effectiveness.
There are fewer side effects in HIPEC treatment as compared to traditional chemotherapy because drugs are not absorbed into the blood stream.