Laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: indications, aims, and results: a systematic review of the literature.

Purpose: To evaluate laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) with neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or palliative purpose in order to discuss potential clinical implications.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed's Medline through August 2011 using the keywords laparoscopic, hyperthermic, and chemotherapy.

Results: Eight studies encompassing a total of 183 patients were considered. The indications for laparoscopic HIPEC was neoadjuvant in 5 patients, adjuvant in 102 patients, and palliative in 76 patients. There were 13 minor complications not requiring repeat operation, and no deaths related to procedure were recorded. When performed to treat refractory malignant ascites, the procedure was effective in 95 % of cases.

Conclusions: Laparoscopic HIPEC appears to be a safe and effective procedure when performed to treat malignant ascites refractory to less aggressive treatments. The effectiveness of laparoscopy to perform HIPEC with neoadjuvant or adjuvant purpose needs to be confirmed by further studies.