for CRS (Cytoreductive surgery) and HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy)

Mysore/Mysuru: Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Mysuru, has added another feather to its illustrious cap of medical achievements with its newly launched Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Department.

The dedicated department has been instrumental in using the latest treatment modality called HIPEC (Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) and saving many patients suffering from advanced ovarian and appendiceal cancers (the type of Peritoneal Surface Malignancy that they were suffering from) since its launch one year ago.

CRS – HIPEC is a treatment modality that is generally used for treating advanced cancers in the abdomen. This technique is generally opted for when cancer has spread beyond the organ from where it originated to other parts of the abdomen. Most commonly treated cancers using this modality include ovarian cancer, bowel cancer, appendiceal cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer.

Addressing a press meet recently, Clinical Director of the Hospital, Dr. M.N. Ravi said “CRS – HIPEC is a two-step procedure that treats some abdominal cancers. Visible cancer deposits are surgically removed and then heated chemotherapy drugs are installed in the cavity to eliminate remaining microscopic cancer cells. This innovative procedure at the Cancer Centre of NH is a window of opportunity for patients with peritoneal cancers for excellent long-term outcomes and has been offered to many patients not only from Mysuru but surrounding districts also.”

Dr. K.R. Suhas, Consultant Onco Surgeon,  NH, said, “Owing to the difficult location and spread, Peritoneal Surface Malignancies are hard to treat. These cancers have a poor prognosis without adequate surgery and innovative treatment like CRS – HIPEC can offer better long-term prognosis and cure. CRS means complete removal of the inner lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and removal of all visible cancer from the abdominal cavity. This is a complex procedure usually lasting for 8-10 hours.”

Talking further on the procedure, GI Onco Surgeon Dr. H.M. Lokesh said “During HIPEC, the chemotherapy drugs are heated to 41 •C and circulated inside the abdomen for 90 minutes after CRS. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy decreases systemic exposure to cancer drugs and also achieves a high concentration of drugs inside the abdomen to ensure better outcomes and the heat in itself causes the deleterious effect on cancer cells.”