[Experiences with therapeutic whole-body hyperthermia]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Physics
• Anesthesiology

Context:

• Therapeutic whole body hyperthermia (WBH) is an established, yet underutilized, adjunctive cancer treatment.
• Clinical acceptance of WBH is growing, necessitating further research into its safety and efficacy.
• Extracorporeal circuit (ECC) technology enables precise control of WBH at target temperatures.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the safety and physiological effects of therapeutic whole body hyperthermia (WBH) in cancer patients.
• To assess the feasibility of WBH in high-risk anesthesia patients.
• To document complications and challenges associated with WBH treatment.

Summary:

• A clinical study involved 28 patients undergoing 70 WBH treatments at a core temperature of 41.8°C using an ECC.
• Anesthesia involved nitrous oxide, enflurane, and fentanyl, requiring mandatory artificial ventilation and invasive monitoring.
• Physiological effects included increased cardiac output/heart rate, decreased vascular resistance/mean arterial pressure, stable pulmonary function, and compensated oxygen consumption.
• Close monitoring of fluid and electrolyte balance is crucial due to augmented perspiration and ECC use.

Impact:

• WBH demonstrates a favorable safety profile with a low incidence of complications, even in high-risk patients.
• The findings support WBH as a viable and safe adjunctive therapy in cancer treatment protocols.
• Understanding the physiological responses to WBH is critical for optimizing patient management and treatment outcomes.