PIPAC state of the art
Prof. Marc Pocard, HOD Digestive & Surgical Oncology, Lariboisière Hospital, Paris, France in his first lecture at the ‘PIPAC LIVE’ event organised by BCPBF at the Apollo Hospitals, Delhi: Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosolized Chemotherapy, PIPAC, Professor Marc Pocard explained, is a new drug delivery system, which is a relatively easy, efficient and safe method to use to deal with intraperitoneal tumours. While it was used for the first time in 2011 in Germany, the prototypes were formed in 1999, 2010 and 2011. PIPAC has a high tissue penetration due to homogeneous distribution and high artificial pressure, leading to decrease in the required dosage to deal with systemic tumours(10-20% of normal). Risks to medical personnel include inhalation of the drugs delivered to the peritoneum. Professor Pocard described different measures – both personal and professional-to be taken, to ensure the safety of all. Pros: -performed once every 6-8 weeks. -quality of life stabilized -nutritional status stabilized -symptoms are gone Cons: -going inside the abdomen without causing small bowel traumatic lesions is problematic
