CM Vishnu : As a Result of the Tireless Efforts of Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, A New Ray of Hope emerges in Cancer Treatment with the Introduction of PIPAC Technology
Under the leadership of CM Vishnu Deo Sai, health infrastructure and services in the state are continually being strengthened. The relentless efforts of Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal have ensured that the citizens of the state have access to easy and affordable healthcare services. With modern medical systems based on ongoing scientific research, trials, and conclusions, many severe illnesses are now being treated successfully. Thanks to the treatment procedures of doctors and the positive outlook of patients, even incurable diseases like cancer are now being managed effectively.
In a recent achievement, a team of doctors from the Oncology Surgery Department of the Regional Cancer Institute at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, affiliated with Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College, successfully treated a woman suffering from peritoneal cancer using the PIPAC (Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosolized Chemotherapy) method, playing a vital role in saving her valuable life. This is possibly the first time this technique has been used in any government cancer hospital in Central India to treat peritoneal cancer. PIPAC is a type of chemotherapy administered with pressure into the abdominal cavity, helping prevent the spread of cancer cells.
Under the leadership of Cancer Surgeon Dr. (Prof.) Ashutosh Gupta, the treatment was carried out using a laparoscopic method, a minimally invasive procedure where chemotherapy is delivered in aerosol form through a machine, enhancing the drug’s effect on cancer tissues and helping control the cancer. The 54-year-old woman patient from Odisha was discharged five days after the treatment and she is now doing well, coming for follow-ups.
PIPAC is a laparoscopic procedure where doctors create one or two small incisions in the patient’s abdomen, known as access ports, to perform the process.
Dr. Vivek Chaudhary, Director of the Regional Cancer Institute and Dean of Pt. Nehru Medical College, congratulated the entire team of the Cancer Surgery Department on the successful treatment using this new method for the first time. He also stated that this is a safe and effective treatment process that enhances the impact of chemotherapy. It can be adopted as a new option for chemotherapy in cancers such as colorectal, ovarian, and gastric cancer. Efforts will be made to extend this treatment facility to other cancer patients in the future.
Dr. Santosh Sonkar, Superintendent of Ambedkar Hospital, remarked that the dedicated efforts of doctors at Ambedkar Hospital for patient treatment have always maintained the people’s trust in the institution.
According to Cancer Surgeon Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, PIPAC is a technique that delivers chemotherapy as an aerosol under pressure into the abdominal cavity. Aerosol, a combination of the words “aero” (air) and “sol” (solution), means a mixture of extremely small particles of a substance in a liquid. Pressurized aerosol distributes the chemotherapy evenly throughout the abdomen. This new process of treatment offers several potential benefits for diseases like advanced peritoneal cancer, GI cancer, and advanced ovarian cancer. The high concentration of chemotherapy enhances the ability to fight cancer cells while causing less damage to other organs. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and loss of appetite are reduced, and organs like the liver and kidneys suffer less damage.
How the Procedure is Carried Out
Dr. Ashutosh Gupta explained that access ports are first created for the procedure, and then the peritoneum (the membrane lining the abdominal cavity) is inflated using the port. A device for delivering pressurized chemotherapy is inserted through one access port. Pressurized aerosol chemotherapy is delivered inside the peritoneum for about 30 minutes. After the procedure, all instruments are removed from the abdomen, and the small incisions are closed. The treatment team included Cancer Surgeons Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, Dr. Kishan Soni, Dr. Rajiv Jain, Dr. Gunjan Agarwal, and Anesthesia Specialist Dr. Shashank