Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy — chemotherapy delivered as a fine aerosol inside the abdomen during laparoscopy, for selected patients with peritoneal disease.
What is pipac?
Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy — chemotherapy delivered as a fine aerosol inside the abdomen during laparoscopy, for selected patients with peritoneal disease.
Approach
Aerosol chemotherapy for the abdomen
Used for
Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, Peritoneal Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Stomach & Esophageal Cancer
Where
Vesu, Surat
PIPAC is a laparoscopic technique in which chemotherapy is turned into a pressurised aerosol and sprayed directly onto the lining of the abdomen, where it penetrates tumour deposits more evenly than liquid chemotherapy.
It is used for selected patients whose cancer has spread to the peritoneum — for example from ovarian, stomach or colorectal cancer — often when major cytoreductive surgery is not suitable, and can be repeated at intervals.
PIPAC is part of a wider plan with systemic chemotherapy and is offered only after careful evaluation.
Potential benefits
Delivered through keyhole surgery — usually a short hospital stay
Targets peritoneal disease directly with lower drug doses
Allows repeated treatment and assessment of response
Important to know
For carefully selected patients with peritoneal disease
Complements, rather than replaces, systemic treatment
Understand it step by step
The PIPAC pathway
01
Evaluation
Staging and team discussion to confirm PIPAC is appropriate.
02
Laparoscopy
Small access points are placed and the abdomen is assessed.
03
Aerosol chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is delivered as a pressurised aerosol for about 30 minutes.
04
Repeat & review
Treatment may be repeated over weeks, with response checked each time.
Frequently asked
Questions patients ask
HIPEC follows major surgery to remove all visible disease; PIPAC is a keyhole procedure that delivers aerosolised chemotherapy and can be repeated. They suit different situations, and the team decides which is appropriate.
Where it applies
This approach may be considered for cancers such as these — always after individual evaluation.
