ACOG Committee Opinion No. 396. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy for ovarian cancer

Postoperative intravenous (IV) chemotherapy for advanced stage ovarian cancer has been the standard treatment . Recent studies have found significant survival advantages with the use of adjuvant intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy. Combination IV/IP chemotherapy may be an option for well counseled, carefully selected patients with optimally debulked stage III ovarian cancer. However, IV/IP treatment also has increased rates of pain, fatigue, and hematologic, gastrointestinal , metabolic, and neurologic toxicities. Given the balance of efficacy, quality of life, and toxicity, the decision to use IP chemotherapy must be individualized.