Malignant ascites is a debilitating condition affecting cancer patients in their terminal stage of disease. Recently, laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal peroperative chemotherapy (HIPEC) was introduced as a new approach. From September 2001 to August 2008, 52 patients were treated with this new modality. No treatment-related mortality was observed. Median survival was 98 days. One patient developed a clinical recurrence. Laparoscopic HIPEC is a safe and effective method for palliating malignant ascites.
(c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.