Peritonectomy and Cytoreductive Surgery
click to view diagramPeritonectomy is the most common surgical procedure for peritoneal mesothelioma patients. The goal of the surgery is to remove the cancerous part of the lining of the abdominal cavity. Two or more of these procedures are usually performed simultaneously. This involved procedure, called cytoreductive surgery, aims to remove as much cancerous growth as possible from multiple sites in the abdomen. It may involve the removal of parts of these six organs: bowels, gall bladder, liver, pancreas, spleen and stomach.
When performed as stand-alone procedures, peritonectomy and cytoreductive surgery can give patients relief from abdominal pain and loss of appetite. However, doctors often perform cytoreductive surgery in combination with other treatments. When used with chemotherapy, the surgery has the ability to kill cancer and extend life span. This combination has helped some patients to live seven years or longer after diagnosis.
Find out more about peritonectomy, cytoreduction and other peritoneal mesothelioma treatments that may help extend your life span. Request a free informational packet from the Mesothelioma Center by completing the form.
What to Expect
Cytoreduction is a complex procedure that generally lasts 10 to 12 hours. Because the surgery is so lengthy, patients are frequently admitted to the hospital a day before the surgery. Doctors use the extra day for preoperative testing (X-rays, blood tests and other preparatory measures).
After surgery, patients can expect an extensive recovery period in the hospital and at home. Most patients have a post-op hospital stay of about 14 days. While there, they can have chemotherapy as potentially curative care.
A heated chemotherapy regimen – administered into the abdominal cavity for direct contact with cancer cells – begins during surgery and lasts about two weeks. Heated chemo aims to kill any cancer cells have been left behind by the cytoreduction.
Once discharged from the hospital, patients should expect another two or three weeks of recovery at home. A large part of this recuperation depends on the recovery of the digestive system, which experiences significant complications after cytoreduction. For the weeks after cytoreduction surgery, patients receive food, fluids, vitamins and medications intravenously. Rather than relying on a faulty digestive tract, patients are connected to a nasogastric tube which goes from the nose and into the stomach. The nasogastric tube drains the contents of the stomach until the bowels can take over. This usually takes three or four weeks after surgery.
Effect on Life Span
A combination of cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy can help some patients become long-term survivors. In general, when peritoneal mesothelioma patients follow this treatment regimen, doctors report a median survival of approximately three years. One study of 49 patients achieved a median survival of 92 months (about 7.5 years). This is a drastic difference from the typical mesothelioma prognosis of one year or less.
If you have pericardial mesothelioma, proper treatment can help you become a survivor. Treatments such as cytoreduction may add years to your lifespan. Discuss your situation with a mesothelioma specialist and create a personalized treatment plan. To find a top doctor in your area, use the Mesothelioma Center's free Doctor Match Program.
-
05/24/2012 -
One of the biggest asbestos-abatement jobs ever done in Buffalo, New York, is being handled now by a local company with a history of asbestos-related ..
-
05/23/2012 -
A new class of anti-cancer drugs is nearing the clinical trial phase and may eventually be available for treatment of aggressive diseases like pancrea ..
-
05/23/2012 -
School districts all across America have been wrestling in recent years with the task of removing and disposing of toxic asbestos from older buildings ..
© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Monday, May 14th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
