AIIMS Jammu performs landmark HIPEC Surgeries, offers new hope to cancer patients

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: In a significant milestone for cancer care in the region, and marking its distinction as the only government centre in the region currently offering HIPEC, the Department of Surgical Oncology at AIIMS Jammu has successfully performed two advanced HIPEC procedures, marking a major leap forward in complex oncological surgery within the government healthcare system.
The two patients from Doda and Muthi, Jammu have been discharged and have now initiated their further systemic treatment. This achievement marks a significant advancement in delivering highly specialized and resource-intensive cancer treatment within the public healthcare system.
The surgeries were led by Dr. Paras Khanna, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, with critical intraoperative support provided by Dr. Raksha Kundal, Associate Professor, Department of Anaesthesia, and her team.
Dr. Paras Khanna explained that HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) is an advanced treatment used for select abdominal cancers that spread within the peritoneal cavity, such as ovarian, colorectal, gastric, appendiceal cancers, and pseudomyxoma peritonei.
The procedure is typically performed in two stages during the same surgery:
Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS): Onco-surgeons first remove all visible tumor deposits from the abdominal cavity.
Heated Chemotherapy Bath: A heated chemotherapy solution is then circulated inside the abdomen for 60-90 minutes. The heat enhances drug penetration and effectiveness while limiting systemic side effects.
Unlike conventional chemotherapy, HIPEC delivers high concentrations of chemotherapy directly to the tumor site, improving outcomes in carefully selected patients.
HIPEC procedures are among the most complex and long-duration oncological surgeries and require seamless coordination between Surgical Oncology, Anaesthesia, Critical Care, and perioperative nursing teams. The success of these cases reflects the growing multidisciplinary strength of AIIMS Jammu.
Until now, patients from Jammu and surrounding regions often had to travel to metropolitan cities for HIPEC, incurring significant financial and emotional burden. The availability of this treatment at AIIMS Jammu represents Improved access to advanced cancer care in the public sector; Reduced need for out-of-state referrals; Financial relief for economically vulnerable patients; and Strengthening of tertiary oncology services in North India.
Dr. Sunaina Gupta, Additional Professor and Officiating Head, Department of Anaesthesia, highlighted that meticulous preoperative optimization along with comprehensive perioperative critical care played a key role in ensuring successful outcomes in such complex procedures. She congratulated the ICU staff, residents, and consultants for their dedicated efforts and seamless teamwork.
Prof. (Dr.) D. N. Sharma, Executive Director & CEO, AIIMS Jammu, said it is heartening to witness the Surgical Oncology and Anaesthesia teams successfully performing such complex HIPEC procedures, expanding the frontiers of cancer care. He further underscored the fact that HIPEC is not suitable for all cancers and requires strict patient selection. When carefully selected, it can significantly improve survival and quality of life compared to conventional treatment alone.
He noted that the surgeries were completed within a short span, reflecting the efficiency and expertise of the multidisciplinary team, and added that the availability of such advanced procedures underscores AIIMS Jammu’s commitment to delivering comprehensive cancer care. The successful execution of these initial cases signals AIIMS Jammu’s readiness to expand advanced oncological services and establish itself as a regional referral hub for complex cancer care. With continued multidisciplinary collaboration and infrastructure development, AIIMS Jammu is steadily advancing toward delivering cutting-edge cancer treatment closer to home for patients across Jammu, Kashmir, and neighbouring regions.