Heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy--the challenges of bringing chemotherapy into surgery

Heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIIC) was introduced at Altru Health System in August 2003 to offer the community a different treatment option for intraperitoneal carcinomatosis. The closed technique is performed to eliminate the risk of aerosolization and direct contact of the toxic chemotherapeutic agent with staff members. Implementing the HIIC procedure resulted in the creation of a comprehensive policy on chemotherapy precautions in surgery, which was the catalyst for implementing quality improvement initiatives throughout Altru Health System.