Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute Performs First HIPEC Surgery in Baton Rouge
July 14, 2022
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in the region to offer this life-saving surgery for cancer patients
BATON ROUGE, LA – Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is the first hospital in the Baton Rouge region to provide hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) treatment for patients with certain cancers of the abdomen.
Performed for the first time on June 28 by Mohammad Al Efishat, MD, a surgical oncologist at Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute, the two-step surgery removes all of the patient’s visible tumors before treating the area with heated chemotherapy to eliminate any invisible tumor cells in the abdomen. Requiring less than a two-week hospital stay on average and with a 5-year survival rate as high as 90% for certain tumors, HIPEC provides select patients with inoperable or late-stage cancers an alternative to hospice care.
“HIPEC is a true game-changer, as it helps a patient population with advanced tumors who otherwise would have no treatment options,” said Dr. Efishat. “I’m excited to be a part of the Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute team who introduced this surgery to the Baton Rouge community and is constantly working to advance cancer treatments and provide the best possible care for our patients.”
HIPEC is used to treat a variety of advanced cancers of the abdomen that are otherwise incurable with traditional chemotherapy. This includes tumors that have spread to the lining of the abdomen, such as tumors of the appendix, colon, rectum, mesothelioma, ovaries and stomach.
To learn more about HIPEC and to see if you are a candidate for the surgery, call Our Lady of the Lake Surgeons Group at (225) 769-5656.
About Our Lady of the Lake Health
Our Lady of the Lake Health is a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare ministry based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with more than 7,500 employees committed to serving the Capital Region and building a healthy community through excellence in patient care and education. With an 800-bed Regional Medical Center, a dedicated Children’s Hospital, a 78-bed hospital in Gonzales, Louisiana, two freestanding emergency rooms in outlying parishes, and a 600+ provider Physician Group, Our Lady of the Lake Health provides comprehensive healthcare services for common to complex conditions. Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is a primary teaching site for graduate medical education programs in partnership with LSU, and is recognized in the areas of heart and vascular, trauma and emergency care, stroke, cancer care, minimally invasive procedures, and more. Our Lady of the Lake is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and is driven by its mission to serve all God’s people, especially those most in need. For more information, visit ololrmc.com.