Abstract
To prevent local recurrence after rectal amputation, we performed intra-operative pelvic hyperthermochemotherapy (IPHC) for 13 patients with rectal cancer soon after surgery. After rectal removal, the open deperitonized pelvic cavity was filled with saline containing 40 μg of mitomicin C per ml, warmed in advance. Then, an apparatus we devised was submerged in the pelvic cavity to warm the saline and was maintained at 45°C for 90 minutes. Within the same period of time, 10 patients with rectal cancer served as controls. Throughout this IPHC treatment, the mean temperature of the esophagus was 37.2°C. An indwelling drainage tube in the pelvic cavity was removed later in the IPHC group and the drainage exudate increased in the IPHC group. Local recurrence was experienced by 2 of the controls, whereas in the IPHC group, lcal failure was nil. This IPHC is a safe, reliable treatment for preventing the development of local recurrence from residual cancer cells on the pelvic wall.
