Factors associated with surgical morbidity of primary debulking in epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) requires an aggressive surgical approach. The important part of literature on ovarian cancer surgery emphasize residual tumor and survival analyses. Morbidity issue keeps in background. Therefore, we aimed to report on morbidity of cytoreductive surgery for EOC in this study. METHODS: EOC patients who underwent primary debulking were evaluated. Intraoperative and postoperative complications that occurred within 30 days after the surgery and factors that affect morbidity were considered. RESULTS: The study involved 359 patients. Forty-six intraoperative complications occurred in 42 (11.6%) patients. Advanced stage and cancer antigen level of 125 were independently and significantly associated with operative complications (hazard ratio [HR], 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–2,73; P=0.044, and HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.05–2.06; P=0.025, respectively). The need for intensive care unit admission was significantly higher in patients with intraoperative complications (28.6% vs. 8.8%, P=0.001). Intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were significantly higher in extended surgery than in standard surgery (18.9%vs. 8.5%, P=0.005 and 38.7% vs. 10.9%, P<0.001, respectively). Intraoperative and postoperative transfusion need, hospital stay duration, and chemotherapy start day were also significantly higher in extended surgery than in standard surgery. Hundred postoperative complications occurred in 70 patients. Age, extended surgery, presence of ascites, and presence of operative complications were independently and significantly associated with postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Morbidity of extensive surgical approach should be kept in mind in ovarian cancer surgery aimed at leaving no residual tumor. Patient-based management with an appropriate preoperative evaluation may avoid morbidity of extended/extensive surgical approaches.