OBJECTIVE: To evaluate morbidity and mortality rates associated with the use of 
hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) after optimal 
cytoreduction (CRS) in a large single-institutional series of platinum-sensitive 
recurrent ovarian cancer patients. Moreover, disease free (DFS) and overall 
survival (OS) of previously studied patients have been assessed after a longer 
follow-up period.
METHOD: From May 2005 to October 2010, recurrent ovarian cancer patients with a 
platinum-free interval of at least 6 months have been prospectively enrolled in 
a protocol of CRS plus HIPEC with oxaplatinum (460 mg/m(2)) heated to 41.5 °C 
for 30 min, followed by 6 cycles of systemic chemotherapy with taxotere 75 
mg/m(2) and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m(2).
RESULTS: Forty-one patients experienced 43 procedures (CRS+HIPEC). An optimal 
cytoreduction was achieved in all cases (CC-0 95.3%; CC-1 4.7%). A complication 
rate of 34.8% was registered, with no case of intraoperative death or within 30 
days after surgery. Survival curves have been calculated in a group of 25 
patients with a minimum follow-up of 18 months, obtaining a median DFS and OS of 
24 (range 6-60) and 38 months (range 18-60), respectively.
CONCLUSION: In recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients, the use of 
CRS plus HIPEC represents a safe treatment, able to significantly influence the 
survival rates compared to chemotherapy alone or surgery plus standard 
chemotherapy.