MountainView Hospital is the first hospital in Nevada to conduct Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), part of a complex two-step surgery that treats some cancers arising in the abdomen in part by perfusing heated chemotherapy into the abdominal cavity during surgery.
The surgery was the longest surgery ever performed at MountainView Hospital, at just under 14 hours by Dr. Matthew Selleck, surgical oncologist at Las Vegas Complex Surgical Specialists, a surgical oncology and colon and rectal surgery practice dedicated to treating complex cancers and colorectal diseases and disorders. The surgery removed an extensive amount of tumor spread throughout the abdomen that originally started from the appendix.
“This patient presented to the ER with a distended abdomen, caused by the cancer and fluid buildup,” Dr. Selleck said. “Due to the type of cancer, he was a candidate for cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC.”
The first step is cytoreductive surgery, which is performed when certain cancers have spread to the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum, or to other organs in the abdomen. The surgeon removes all visible cancerous tumors and diseased tissue.
When appropriate, this first step is combined with an innovative treatment, HIPEC. This involves circulating heated high-dose chemotherapy throughout the abdominal cavity. A catheter is inserted into the abdominal cavity, and the heated chemotherapy is circulated for one to two hours. The chemotherapy is then drained and the remainder of the operation completed. This step is in an effort to kill microscopic cancer cells remaining after all visible tumor has been removed with surgery.
“HIPEC is unique in that it directs high doses of chemotherapy directly where it is needed,” Dr. Selleck said. “Combined with high quality surgery, HIPEC is a tool to improve outcomes for these patients.”
The patient, Vladimir C., said he was nervous about the surgery but also excited to be the first patient to undergo the procedure in Nevada.
“I knew I was in good hands with Dr. Selleck and the surgical team. I also knew that the surgery would be long, but I was determined to get better,” said Vladimir, who stayed less than a week in the hospital and was walking the day after surgery. “I can’t thank Dr. Selleck and the entire clinical team enough for providing such compassionate care.”
Post-surgery, Vladimir is doing well and did not have to undergo traditional out-patient chemotherapy.
MountainView is constantly looking to bring innovative surgeries and procedures to Nevada that are not currently available in the state, said Julie Taylor, MountainView Hospital chief executive officer.
“We believe there is great value in keeping care as close to home as possible, where friends and family members are available to provide support in a care environment where they are most comfortable. As a teaching facility we take great pride in the depth and breadth of the services we offer, and we are committed to eliminating the need for patients to travel out of state for care.”
Las Vegas Complex Surgical Specialists opened at MountainView Hospital in Fall 2021, with established surgeons, Garrett Friedman, MD, FACS, FACRS, board certified in general surgery and colon & rectal surgery and Matthew Selleck, DO, FACS, FSSO, board certified in general surgery and complex general surgical oncology.
The practice is equipped to treat many conditions benign and cancerous, complex to simple, with surgical and non-surgical approaches.
Dr. Friedman and Dr. Selleck are accepting new patients. Appointments can be made by call the office at (702) 962-2300.