Intraperitoneal chemotherapy

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is a type of chemotherapy that is administered directly into the peritoneal cavity, which is the area in the body that contains organs such as the stomach, liver, and intestines. This method of chemotherapy is often used to treat cancers that are located in or have spread to the peritoneal cavity.

Overview

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy involves the direct administration of chemotherapy drugs into the peritoneal cavity. This allows for a higher concentration of the drug to be in contact with the cancer cells, potentially increasing the effectiveness of the treatment. This method is often used for cancers that are confined to the peritoneal cavity, such as ovarian cancer, stomach cancer, and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Procedure

The procedure for intraperitoneal chemotherapy typically involves the surgical placement of a catheter into the peritoneal cavity. The chemotherapy drugs are then administered through this catheter. The procedure is usually performed in a hospital setting and may be done as an inpatient or outpatient procedure.

Benefits and Risks

The main benefit of intraperitoneal chemotherapy is that it allows for a higher concentration of chemotherapy drugs to be in direct contact with the cancer cells. This can potentially increase the effectiveness of the treatment. However, this method also has potential risks, including infection, catheter-related complications, and the potential for the chemotherapy drugs to cause damage to the peritoneal cavity.

See Also

• Chemotherapy
• Cancer treatment
• Ovarian cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Peritoneal mesothelioma

References

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy Resources
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