Peritoneal surface malignancy can be divided into primary and secondary. Indication for referral includes Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), peritoneal mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma of the appendix and colon.

Prior to the development of peritonectomy, patients with no-gynaecological peritoneal carcinomatosis had a dismal prognosis. Patients treated by surgery have a median survival of 2 - 8 months. Quality of life for these patients is almost always very poor.

Peritonectomy is a complex and challenging multi-modal therapy. Treatments offered at Braemar Hospital include peritonectomy and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). These procedures offer selected patients with the above diseases a good chance of long-term survival together with effective local control of their disease.

The prognosis is even worse for those whose disease could not be removed with surgery or controlled by intravenous chemotherapy. These patients have been found to have a better quality of life and long term survival if they are treated with PIPAC.  PIPAC (Pressurised Intra-peritoneal Chemotherapy) is the delivery of gaseous chemotherapy intraperitoneally at high concentrations using keyhole surgery. Usually, patients are discharged the next day with minimal discomfort.