Owing to recent advances in surgical techniques, we are now able to provide more treatment options for advanced-stage ovarian cancer than ever before. A technique called cytoreductive surgery (CRS), and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been shown to be an effective treatment option for certain women with advanced-stage ovarian cancer.

This complex surgical procedure is a two-step process:

1. Surgically removing any visible tumor or cancer (CRS)
2. Delivering heated chemotherapy drugs into the abdomen (HIPEC)

After removing  any visible tumours in the abdomen, a heated chemotherapy solution is circulated in the abdominal cavity to treat any cancer cells that may remain. The cavity is then bathed with hot chemotherapy — heated to 42 degrees Celsius — to kill any microscopic cancer cells that remain. Hyperthermia augments the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy, and intra-peritoneal installation allows for delivery of much higher doses locally than are possible systemically, while minimising toxicity. The combination of heat and chemotherapy delivered directly to your abdomen in the operating room is believed to be more effective than cytoreductive surgery alone because it can access and kill more cancer cells than can be found with the naked eye.

Dr Tranoulis will review your case and recommend a treatment plan based on specific details of the disease and your personal factors. It may or may not involve HIPEC. No matter what treatment course he recommends, Dr Tranoulis will spend as much time as necessary with you and your family, to answer all of your questions. Dr Tranoulis can help you and your family decide whether cytoreductive surgery with or without HIPEC is a good option for you.  After your appointment, a panel of our cancer specialists (Multidisciplinary Team Meating - MDT) will review your case in order to formulate an evidence-based, personalised plan for your particular situation.

Excellence in Surgical Care

Dr Anastasios Tranoulis is highly experienced in the treatment of gynecological cancers and a recognised leader in his field. International studies have demostrated that surgeons performing higher volumes of particular procedures can often offer patients better outcomes, such as shorter hospital stays and fewer complications. Studies also confirm that ovarian cancer patients initially treated by Gynaecological Oncologists specialised in Cytoreductive Surgery have improved survival rates compared to those treated by general gynaecologists or general surgeons. Cytoreductive surgery is a complicated surgery that should only be performed by highly skilled, experienced surgeons on patients who have been carefully selected for the procedure. Dr. Tranoulis is a Certified Gynaecological Oncologist  with further sub-specialization in Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC at the prestigious Basingstoke Peritoneal Malignancy Institute and The Pan-Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Centre. 

Dr. Tranoulis will carefully review your medical records and meet with you to determine if this operation may be an effective treatment for you. Two factors are critical for successful outcomes: First, careful patient selection to determine who may benefit the most with the least amount of risk, and second, performance of this operation by a Gynaecological Oncologist experienced in the care of complex cancer patients.