Good Doctor — Thermal Perfusion | Reprinted: [Medical Technology] Minimally Invasive and Precise “Thermal Therapy” Illuminates New Hope for Life

The Department of Surgery Successfully Performed Its First Case of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Recently, the gastrointestinal surgery team from Ward 2 of the Department of General Surgery at the 904th Hospital successfully performed a combined procedure—laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with radical resection plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)—on a 24-year-old patient with appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma. This surgery not only marked the hospital’s first-ever case of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, but also signaled that the hospital has entered a new stage of deep integration between minimally invasive and precision medicine in the comprehensive treatment of malignant abdominal tumors.

The patient is a 24-year-old male who has been diagnosed with appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma. Although this disease is relatively rare, it carries a risk of peritoneal implantation metastasis. While conventional surgery can remove the primary tumor, it often struggles to eliminate occult cancer cells that may have already become detached and dispersed throughout the abdominal cavity. To achieve more thorough curative outcomes and minimize the risk of recurrence, the general surgery team conducted a meticulous multidisciplinary preoperative discussion (MDT) and ultimately decided to perform the patient the internationally advanced technique of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

The surgery was performed in two major steps with precision: First, the team successfully completed a radical right hemicolectomy under laparoscopy, precisely removing the tumor and surrounding lymph nodes through minimally invasive incisions. Subsequently, the procedure moved on to the critical HIPEC treatment phase—using the hospital’s newly acquired intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion therapy device to mix chemotherapy drugs with perfusion fluid, then continuously and cyclically infusing the mixture into the patient’s abdominal cavity at a constant temperature for a specified duration.

“This is akin to giving the patient’s abdominal cavity a precise ‘hot-water bath’ chemotherapy,” explained Director Yu Feng of the Department of General Surgery in a vivid analogy. “In a constant-temperature environment of 42–43°C, thermal energy can directly destroy cancer cells and significantly enhance the penetration and killing effects of chemotherapy drugs on tiny lesions on the peritoneal surface—while causing less damage to normal tissues. As a result, we can achieve the goal of precision medicine: more effective local treatment with fewer side effects.”

The success of this highly challenging surgery was made possible by the team’s solid professional collaboration and meticulous preoperative planning. Not only has it provided this young patient with the best available treatment option at present, but it has also accumulated valuable experience and opened up new therapeutic avenues for the hospital to tackle more complex cases such as peritoneal metastases and malignant ascites in the future. The Department of General Surgery has always adhered to the development philosophy of “patient-centered care driven by technology.” The successful implementation of the HIPEC technique for the first time is a vivid demonstration of the department’s commitment to strengthening its disciplinary development and promoting technological innovation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Looking ahead, the department will continue to deepen its expertise in minimally invasive procedures and comprehensive cancer treatment, enabling more patients to benefit from cutting-edge medical technologies and safeguarding each patient’s health and well-being with professionalism and compassion.

 

 

 

 

Yu Feng

Chief of General Surgery

Director of the Department of General Surgery at the 904th Hospital, Associate Chief Physician, Associate Professor, Doctor of Surgery, and Master’s Supervisor. Currently serves as a member of the Expert Committee on Gastrointestinal Tumors at the National Telemedicine and Internet Medicine Center, a member of the Jiangsu Expert Group of the Applied Technology Committee of the Chinese Medical Association, a member of the Gastrointestinal Tumor Specialist Committee of the Jiangsu Medical Association, and an editorial board member of the Chinese Journal of General Surgery. For many years, he has been dedicated to minimally invasive and standardized diagnosis and treatment of general surgical diseases, with specialized expertise covering: gastrointestinal tumors and complex gastrointestinal disorders, hepatobiliary stones and tumors, obesity and metabolic diseases, as well as surgical treatment of liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and splenic diseases. He excels in laparoscopic techniques and is highly skilled in minimally invasive surgery for gastrointestinal diseases. He has extensive experience in laparoscopy combined with choledochoscopy for the treatment of gallbladder stones, cholecystolithotomy with gallbladder preservation, and hepatobiliary duct stones. At the same time, he also possesses profound expertise in laparoscopic treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver cirrhosis complicated by esophagogastric variceal bleeding, and hypersplenism.

Specialist outpatient clinic hours: Monday morning

Xu Jian

Associate Chief Physician of General Surgery

Associate Chief Physician, Department of General Surgery (Gastrointestinal Specialty), the 904th Hospital. Graduated from the former Second Military Medical University and obtained a Master’s degree in Gastrointestinal Surgery. Has been engaged in clinical, teaching, and research work in general surgery for 15 years. Specializes in laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for gastrointestinal tumors and abdominal wall hernias. Possesses extensive experience in the clinical practice of modern surgical concepts, including the management of challenging acute abdominal conditions, damage-control surgery for severe abdominal trauma, multidisciplinary team (MDT) approaches for malignant tumors, and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). In recent years, has published numerous academic papers as first author or corresponding author in core journals both domestically and internationally, including three papers indexed by SCI.

Specialist outpatient hours: Monday afternoon