North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) has successfully performed the first Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure in the State.
The procedure was performed on a 50-year-old woman with advanced cancer of the ovary.
The procedure was performed by a team led by Dr. Caleb Harris, Additional Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology including Dr. Pallabika Mandal, Dr. Yepeto Lohe, Dr. Pynroibor Mawblei, Dr. Neha Rawat.
A statement from the institute said the patient is now recovering well and has been discharged from the hospital.
HIPEC is a cancer treatment that involves filling the abdominal cavity with chemotherapy drugs that have been heated. Also known as “hot chemotherapy,” HIPEC is performed after the surgeon removes tumours inside the abdomen. This procedure needs a special machine which heats the chemotherapy and keeps it circulated in the abdomen for over an hour.
HIPEC is a complex procedure, but it can be very effective in treating advanced cancer of the ovary. The procedure has been shown to improve survival rates and quality of life for patients.
“This is a major milestone for NEIGRIHMS and for the people of Meghalaya,” Director of NEIGRIHMS Dr. Nalin Mehta said.
He said the highly specialized procedure is not available in many parts of the country and the institute will now be able to offer the advanced treatment.
Medical Superintendent Dr. C. Daniala said that the institute is in the process of procuring a HIPEC machine. “This will allow us to offer this procedure to more patients,” he said, adding, “We are committed to providing state-of-the-art cancer care to the people of Meghalaya, and HIPEC is a major step in that direction.”
