How to Choose a HIPEC Surgeon and Center: What Patients Should Look For


Medicine Made Simple Summary

Choosing the right HIPEC surgeon and hospital is one of the most important decisions a patient can make. HIPEC is a complex treatment that requires special training, high surgical skill and experienced support teams. Not all hospitals offer the same level of expertise. This guide explains in simple language how to evaluate a surgeon’s experience, what questions to ask during consultation, how to compare hospitals, what signs indicate a high-quality HIPEC center and how to make a confident decision for yourself or your loved one.

Choose a HIPEC surgeon with high-volume experience, a strong multidisciplinary team, transparent communication and access to advanced postoperative care. Experience matters more than location or popularity.

Why Choosing the Right HIPEC Surgeon Matters

HIPEC is not a standard abdominal surgery. It involves:

• A long operation
• Removal of tumors from multiple abdominal surfaces
• Heated chemotherapy circulation
• Complex recovery needs

Because of this complexity, outcomes depend heavily on the surgeon’s experience and the quality of the hospital.

Patients often worry about:

• How do I know my doctor is experienced enough?
• What makes one HIPEC center better than another?
• Should I travel for treatment?
• Do all hospitals follow the same protocols?
• What questions should I ask?

This guide answers these questions clearly.

What Makes HIPEC So Specialized?

HIPEC requires expertise in:

• Surgical oncology
• Peritoneal cancer biology
• Advanced abdominal surgery
• Managing heated chemotherapy safely
• Postoperative critical care
• Multidisciplinary planning

Few surgeons are trained in all these areas. Even fewer perform enough HIPEC surgeries per year to build strong, consistent outcomes. This is why careful selection matters.

Key Factors to Look for When Choosing a HIPEC Surgeon

1. Experience With CRS + HIPEC (Most Important)

Ask the surgeon:

• How many HIPEC procedures have you performed?
• How many do you perform each year?
• How long have you been doing HIPEC?
• Which cancers do you treat most often?

Surgeons who perform HIPEC regularly have:

• Lower complication rates
• Shorter surgery times
• Higher success in complete tumor removal
• Better postoperative outcomes

A high-volume surgeon is often defined as performing 20–40 HIPEC procedures per year.

2. Experience With Your Cancer Type

HIPEC is used for several cancers, but each behaves differently:

• Appendix cancer
• Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP)
• Colorectal cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Peritoneal mesothelioma

Choose a surgeon who frequently treats your specific diagnosis.

• PMP surgery is different from mesothelioma surgery.
• Colorectal HIPEC is different from gastric HIPEC.
• Expertise must be disease-specific.

3. Ability to Achieve Complete Cytoreduction

The goal of HIPEC surgery is to remove all visible disease (known as CC-0 or CC-1).
Success in HIPEC strongly depends on this.

Ask your surgeon:

• How often do you achieve complete cytoreduction?
• What is your strategy when disease is extensive?
• Do you perform diagnostic laparoscopy before surgery?

A surgeon confident in cytoreduction is key to better outcomes.

4. Membership in a Multidisciplinary Team

HIPEC is never a one-person treatment.

Successful centers have teams including:

• Surgical oncologists
• Medical oncologists
• Radiologists
• Pathologists
• ICU specialists
• Nutritionists
• Physiotherapists
• Oncology nurses

Why this matters:

• Cancer treatment requires combined decisions.
• A multidisciplinary tumor board improves accuracy and safety.

5. Hospital Volume and Infrastructure

Look for a center that regularly handles major cancer surgeries.

The hospital should have:

• Dedicated ICU
• Experienced anesthesia team
• Specialized oncology nursing
• Blood bank
• Advanced imaging (CT, MRI)
• Interventional radiology
• Nutrition support
• Physiotherapy services

High-performing HIPEC centers usually have strong supporting systems.

6. Postoperative Care Quality

HIPEC recovery is intensive.

A good center provides:

• 24/7 monitoring
• Skilled ICU care
• Early mobilization protocols
• Strict infection control
• Pain management teams
• Diet progression plans

Good postoperative care reduces complications dramatically.

7. Research and Clinical Trials

Centers involved in research or clinical trials often:

• Use updated treatment protocols
• Have access to newer therapies
• Maintain better quality standards

This does not mean smaller centers are unsafe, but research involvement is a positive indicator.

8. Transparent Communication Style

A good HIPEC surgeon should:

• Explain the procedure clearly
• Share risks honestly
• Discuss expected recovery
• Encourage questions
• Provide printed materials or diagrams
• Offer realistic rather than overly optimistic predictions

Clear, respectful communication builds trust and ensures you understand your treatment.

9. Willingness to Provide Data

You have the right to ask for:

• Complication rates
• Mortality rate
• Length of hospital stay
• Success rates for your cancer type
• Average surgery duration

Experienced centers track and share outcomes.

10. Patient Testimonials and Real Experiences

While testimonials are helpful, they should not be the only factor.

Look for:

• Patients with similar diagnoses
• Long-term survivors
• Balanced reviews
• Comments about postoperative care

If multiple patients highlight good communication and strong support, it’s a positive sign.

How to Evaluate a HIPEC Center (Not Just the Surgeon)

Choosing the right center is as important as choosing the surgeon.

1. HIPEC Procedure Volume

• Ask how many HIPEC surgeries the hospital performs yearly.
• Higher volume means stronger systems and more experienced staff.

2. Experience With Complications

Ask:

• How does the hospital handle emergency complications?
• Is interventional radiology available onsite?
• How often do patients require return to the ICU?

A good center is prepared for all possibilities.

3. Central Sterile Services and Infection Control

• HIPEC requires excellent sterilization processes.
• Strong infection control reduces postoperative complications.

4. Availability of Advanced Intensive Care

• Patients may spend 1–3 days in ICU after HIPEC.
• Ensure the hospital has an experienced critical care team.

5. Oncology Nursing Expertise

Nurses trained in:

• Chemotherapy handling
• Wound care
• Stoma care (if needed)
• Pain management
• Early mobilization techniques

Specialized nurses make recovery smoother.

6. Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation Programs

The best centers provide:

• Physiotherapy
• Breathing exercises
• Strength-building programs
• Nutritional counseling
• Emotional support

These programs help patients recover faster.

7. Ease of Follow-Up

Choose a center that offers:

• Clear follow-up schedule
• Easy access to doctors
• Reliable communication channels
• Emergency contacts

Follow-up is essential for long-term monitoring.

Questions to Ask During Your HIPEC Consultation

Use these questions to assess the surgeon’s confidence and experience.

About Experience

• How many CRS + HIPEC procedures have you performed?
• How many do you do annually?
• What cancers do you treat most often?

About Your Case

• What is my PCI score?
• Am I a good candidate for complete cytoreduction?
• What outcomes do patients with my condition typically see?

About the Procedure

• How long will surgery take?
• What organs may need to be removed?
• What are the most common complications?

About Recovery

• How long will I be in the hospital?
• What restrictions will I have at home?
• When can I return to work?

About Support Services

• Is physiotherapy included?
• Is nutrition counseling available?
• How does your team handle complications?

A confident surgeon will answer all questions without hesitation.

Red Flags When Choosing a HIPEC Surgeon or Center

Avoid surgeons or hospitals that:

• Cannot tell you their complication or success rates
• Perform HIPEC only rarely
• Avoid answering questions
• Promise results that sound “too good to be true”
• Do not participate in a multidisciplinary tumor board
• Do not explain risks clearly
• Say “you don’t need to know details”
• Pressure you to decide quickly

Good surgeons educate; poor surgeons avoid transparency.

When Should You Seek a Second Opinion?

A second opinion is helpful when:

• You are unsure about surgery
• Your PCI score is borderline
• Another surgeon gives very different advice
• You are told you’re not a candidate, but you want confirmation
• You want to compare hospital experience

Second opinions are normal in rare cancer treatments.

Should You Travel for HIPEC?

Many patients travel to experienced HIPEC centers because:

• Expertise is not available everywhere
• Outcomes are significantly better at high-volume hospitals
• Rare cancers require specialized care

If travel is required:

• Plan for caregiver support
• Understand recovery expectations
• Ask about remote follow-up options

In HIPEC, expertise matters more than geography.

Conclusion

If you or your loved one is considering HIPEC, take time to research your options. Ask your surgeon the right questions, understand their experience and evaluate the hospital’s systems carefully. A well-chosen HIPEC center improves safety, recovery and long-term outcomes. Schedule consultations with experienced HIPEC teams and make a confident decision based on transparent information, not pressure or fear.