INTRAOPERATIVE CHEMOHYPERTHERMIA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DIGESTIVE CANCERS - A GENERAL-REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Intraoperative chemohyperthermia is a new method in the treatment of p eritoneal seedings from digestive cancers, which combines surgery, int raperitoneal chemotherapy (mitomycin C and/or cisplatyl) and peritonea l hyperthermia. After a brief reminder on the general principles conce rning high temperature action, a review of literature is made: 5 teams have performed this technique. We differentiate the indications, desi gn features and results of each team. The results show a mean survival after 2 years of 35% (in peritoneal carcinomatosis) up to 78% (in gas tric serosal invasion, peritoneal seeding free). The best result of th e method is the drying up of cancerous ascites, allowing a more comfor table survival.