First Clinical Safety and Feasibility Data of Whole-body Hyperthermia Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (WBH-PIPAC) for Peritoneal Surface Malignancies

Background/Aim: This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of whole-body hyperthermia pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (WBH-PIPAC) in patients with peritoneal surface malignancies. Patients and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed a database of 28 patients who had received one cycle of normothermic PIPAC prior to repetitive WBH-PIPACs. WBH (39-40°C) was induced using a Water-filtered infrared A device. Doxorubicin plus cisplatin or oxaliplatin was nebulized into a constant capnoperitoneum of 20 mmHg for 30 min at doses of 6.0 mg, 30.0 mg, or 120 mg per m2 body surface area, respectively. The primary outcome measures were feasibility and perioperative complications. Results: The median age was 62 years (range=45-78 years). Primary tumor sites included the upper gastrointestinal tract (n=9), colon/rectum (n=7), hepato-pancreato-biliary system (n=3), peritoneum (n=2), ovaries (n=2), and unknown primary (n=5). The induction of WBH failed in one patient (6 liters ascites). After a median warming period of 95 min (53-117 min), the median rectal temperature (Trec) was 39.5°C (39.2-39.9°C). No hyperthermia-related side effects were observed. Twenty-seven patients received 50 WBH-PIPACs. The median time of therapeutic capnoperitoneum and treatment time with Trec ≥39°C was 39 min (37-43 min) and 66 min (53-69 min), respectively. The overall rate of postoperative procedure-related complications was 9/50, including seven grade I and two grade II complications. There were no grade III-V complications. Conclusion: In a highly selected group of patients, the feasibility and perioperative safety of WBH-PIPAC was comparable to normothermic PIPAC.