How is HIPEC different from traditional chemotherapy?

HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion) is different from traditional chemotherapy in a number of ways. First, the HIPEC procedure is combined with surgical removal of all visible cancer in the abdominal cavity. Then, in the operating room, chemotherapy is administered into the abdominal cavity. The chemotherapy is heated up to 42 degrees Celsius. This makes the chemotherapy penetrate into the tissues better it would at normal temperature. This cannot be done with regular intravenous chemotherapy. Also, the concentration of chemotherapy used is 20-30 times that of normal chemotherapy, thus having better killing effect on the tumor cells. Since the chemotherapy is administered into the abdominal cavity, the side effects like nausea, vomiting, and hair loss are avoided.