CRS HIPEC – a new ray of hope for advanced abdominal cancer: The Department of Surgical Oncology, Fortis Mohali, successfully treated a 42-year-old woman suffering from Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) cancer of the abdomen by cytoreductive surgery (CRS) HIPEC surgery (hyperthermic intraperitoneal Chemotherapy).
The case gains importance because PMP cancer is extremely rare, with an incidence rate of about 1-2 per million per year.
The medical team led by Dr. Jitender Rohila, specialist in surgical oncology and robotic surgeon, Fortis Hospital Mohali, treated the patient. CRS HIPEC has established itself as the gold standard for the surgical treatment of PMP cancer. It is a combination of complex surgery and intra-abdominal chemotherapy to eliminate advanced abdominal tumors.
Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) involves removal of all cancerous foci in the abdominal cavity, while HIPEC surgery involves administering heated chemotherapy to the abdomen in the operating room after ensuring complete CRS.
The patient had severe abdominal swelling, changes in bowel habits, and loss of appetite. She had undergone surgery three months ago at another hospital for suspected ovarian cancer (womb, both ovaries and appendix were removed). Diagnostic reports revealed a mucinous tumor of caecal origin. After that, last month, the patient finally turned to Dr. Rohila in Fortis Mohali, where medical tests and CT scan showed mucous ascites (jelly-like substance in the abdomen) and tumor deposits throughout the abdominal cavity, suggesting PMP cancer. After discussions with the tumor board, Dr. Rohila performs CRS and HIPEC surgery on the patient.
About the case said Dr. Rohila: “It was a complex operation that included bowel resection and removal of the tumor from the liver and bowel. Complete cytoreduction took about 8 hours. After the tumor was removed, HIPEC was performed for 90 minutes. The patient had a smooth postoperative recovery and was discharged 10 days after the operation. She has made a full recovery and is leading a normal life today.”
To explain the CRS HIPEC process, Dr. Rohila: “CRS HIPEC is used to treat cancer that has spread to the peritoneum, originating from cancer of the appendix, colon (colon and rectum), stomach, ovary or cancer that develops from the peritoneum Pseudomyxoma peritonei, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma and primary peritoneal carcinomas. CRS HIPEC is a major surgical procedure and requires trained surgeons, experienced anesthesia teams and intensive care unit intensive care teams, an experienced medical oncology team to manage chemotherapy-related complications, an expert radiology team and an oncopathology team for the correct diagnosis, including the type, stage and grade of the Cancer; an interventional radiology facility to manage postoperative complications and a rehabilitation team to ensure a smooth and early recovery.”
