Intraperitoneal Gemcitabine Chemotherapy Treatment for Patients with Resected Pancreatic Cancer: Rationale and Report of Early Data

Figure 1

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for treatment of abdominal and pelvic surfaces following pancreaticoduodenectomy. To administer hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy there is one inflow catheter and four drainage catheters. The chemotherapy solution is maintained at approximately 43°C at the inflow catheter and 41°C throughout the whole abdomen. Four smoke evacuators are placed around the periphery of the open abdomen in order to create a “vapor barrier” above the chemotherapy solution. The surgeon’s double-gloved hand is used to maintain a uniform distribution of the heat and chemotherapy solution.