📍 Whitefield, Bengaluru
HOD & Senior Consultant · Surgical Oncology
Consultation by Appointment
A PIPAC procedure is typically a laparoscopic operation under general anesthesia lasting roughly one to two hours, during which chemotherapy aerosol is delivered into the abdomen for about 30 minutes.
From the patient’s point of view, the day of treatment usually follows this order:
| Order | Stage | What you can expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Admission | Check-in, final questions and consent review |
| 2 | Anesthesia | General anesthesia is given so you are asleep during the procedure |
| 3 | Procedure | Small incisions, inspection, biopsies and aerosol delivery (about 30 minutes of exposure) |
| 4 | Closure | Aerosol is removed, ports are taken out and incisions are closed |
| 5 | Recovery room | Monitoring as you wake up, with pain and nausea control |
| 6 | Ward | Gradual eating and walking before discharge, often within 1–3 days |
Preparation for PIPAC usually includes pre-treatment tests, review of your medications, fasting before anesthesia, and arranging support for the days after treatment.
The checklist below groups preparation tasks by timing; your hospital will give you exact instructions:
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| Weeks before | Complete blood tests, imaging and an anesthesia assessment |
| Weeks before | Review blood thinners, diabetes drugs and supplements with your team |
| Day before | Follow any bowel preparation advice you are given |
| Day of treatment | Follow fasting instructions (often no food for about 6 hours before anesthesia) |
| Day of treatment | Pack for a short stay and arrange transport home |
| After discharge | Plan for help at home for the first few days |
Many patients resume light eating within a day and usual activities within one to two weeks, though fatigue and appetite changes can last longer depending on other treatment.
General guidance for returning to daily life is summarized below; follow your own team’s advice:
| Activity | General guidance |
|---|---|
| Eating | Small, frequent meals at first; increase as tolerated |
| Work | Often possible within one to two weeks for desk-based roles |
| Exercise | Gentle walking is usually encouraged; avoid heavy lifting until cleared |
| Driving | Only when pain-free and off strong pain relief |
Follow-up after PIPAC generally includes symptom checks, blood tests and scheduled reassessment, with repeat laparoscopy at each cycle and imaging after a course of treatment.
Ask for a written plan at discharge covering who to call, day and night.
Contact your care team urgently, or seek emergency care, if you develop any of the following warning signs:
A PIPAC procedure may be stopped if the surgeon cannot enter the abdomen safely because of adhesions, or if unexpected findings such as bowel obstruction or extensive disease make treatment unsafe.
Common reasons a procedure may be cancelled or not completed include:
Even then, biopsies and information gained may still guide other options.
Previous abdominal surgery does not necessarily rule out PIPAC, but scar tissue (adhesions) can make safe laparoscopic entry difficult and is a recognized reason a procedure may not be completed.
Surgeons plan the entry point carefully, sometimes using an open technique at the first port. If the abdomen cannot be entered safely, the procedure is usually stopped and other options are discussed.
