[The techniques of peritonectomy and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy]

The treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis represents a challenge in the therapy for gastrointestinal cancer. A multimodal approach with complete surgical cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can improve the prognosis in selected patients. Complete surgical cytoreduction, consisting of parietal and visceral peritonectomy, is a sophisticated procedure, frequently requiring multivisceral resections and should only be performed by experienced visceral surgeons. In addition, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is of some complexity. Furthermore, regarding the learning curve for this procedure, combined treatment should only be performed in specialised centres. Under optimal conditions, the therapy can be carried out with reasonable morbidity and mortality rates. Patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis should be evaluated by an interdisciplinary team concerning this multimodal therapy option and, if applicable, they should be referred to therapy within the framework of clinical studies.