Description: A superior measuring system for isolated limb perfusion treatment of in-transit metastases
ilp (40) measuring system (6) malignt melanom (5) mätsystem (4) malignant melanoma (3) hilp (2) medicview (2) leakage measuring (2) läckagemätning (2) in-transit metastasis (2)
HILP is a treatment method intended for an aggressive form of melanoma that occurs on the extremities known as in-transit metastases. The operation is performed under general anesthesia in which the main artery and vein of the affected extremity are connected to a perfusion circuit, to completely isolate the blood flow to and from the limb. The circuit uses a membrane oxygenator, a rotary pump and a heat exchanger to control oxygenation, temperature, and flow of the blood in the limb.
By having the affected limb connected to a perfusion circuit and with its blood completely isolated from that of the remainder of the body, it is possible to warm the blood and the extremity to a temperature of 39-40 °C without warming the entire body. High doses of cytotoxic chemotherapy agents, such as Melphalan only or in combination with Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNFα), can be administered into the extremity without exposing the entire body to the drug.
The combination of heat and high doses of Melphalan and TNFα circulating in the extremity for ninety minutes induces tumor regression and limb salvage in around 80% of the patients. The operation usually lasts a total of 3 to 4 hours and subsequent regression of tumor takes place over 2 - 10 weeks.