HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy)

HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) is a specialised technique intended for certain cancers that have reached the peritoneum, the membrane lining the inside of the abdomen. It combines two complementary stages within a single operation: complete surgical removal of the visible lesions, followed by the delivery of heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity. Heat increases the effectiveness of the chemotherapy, and its local delivery makes it possible to reach microscopic residual cells while limiting its spread to the rest of the body. This demanding approach is intended for patients rigorously selected at a multidisciplinary team meeting, after a very thorough work-up. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, HIPEC is performed by a trained surgical and anaesthetic team, with post-operative monitoring in intensive care. The patient and their family are informed at length beforehand about the course of the operation and the convalescence, which takes time and requires ongoing support.