Aggressive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer performed by a multidisciplinary team: A retrospective analysis on a large series of patients

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the impact of extended surgical treatment performed by a team of gynecologists and general surgeons on postoperative morbidity and survival of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. METHODS: We collected data of 156 patients with advanced ovarian cancer stage IIb-III-IV according to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics classification and treated with primary cytoreduction. End points were perioperative and postoperative complications and cancer-related survival. RESULTS: In 51 cases (51/156, 32.7%) a multivisceral resection was completed. Postoperative complications occurred in 52 cases (33.3%). The duration of the surgical procedure as well as the need for diaphragmatic peritonectomy were the factors independently associated with the development of postoperative complications. Five-year cancer-related survival rate was of 50.7%: only histotype and residual tumor resulted significantly associated. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the importance of a team of gynecologists and general surgeons with specific interests and skills to achieve cytoreduction as rapidly as possible, even when it implies very complex maneuvers.