Patients in northeast Georgia with complex abdominal cancers now have access to an advanced treatment option closer to home. Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) has successfully performed its first Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure.
HIPEC is a highly specialized treatment used in select patients with cancers that have spread to the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum. It combines surgery with heated chemotherapy delivered directly into the abdomen. The first procedure at NGHS was led by Eihab Abdelfatah, MD, a surgical oncologist with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group who specializes in cancers of the abdomen and gastrointestinal tract.
“HIPEC allows us to deliver treatment directly where cancer is present in the abdomen, which can improve effectiveness while limiting unnecessary exposure to the rest of the body,” said Dr. Abdelfatah. “By delivering treatment directly to the source, HIPEC can improve outcomes for certain patients who have shown little or no benefit from traditional chemotherapy.”
During the procedure, surgeons first remove all visible tumors from the abdomen and any involved organs. A heated chemotherapy solution is then circulated throughout the abdominal cavity for approximately 90 minutes to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Finally, the solution is drained to ensure no chemotherapy remains in the body. There is minimal absorption of chemotherapy into the bloodstream or elsewhere in the body.
Dr. Abdelfatah joined NGPG in 2025 and is board-certified in complex general surgical oncology, with specialized training in HIPEC and cytoreductive surgeries – procedures designed to remove as much visible cancer as possible.
“This milestone reflects our investment in advanced surgical oncology services and our commitment to improving access to high-quality cancer care in our community,” said Andrew Johnson, MD, medical director of Cancer Services at NGHS and medical oncologist with Longstreet Clinic. “Our team’s expertise ensures patients can receive this level of care close to home – eliminating the need to travel outside the region or to Atlanta – while receiving compassionate treatment at every stage of their journey.”
For more information about cancer services at NGHS, visit nghs.com/cancer.