Maximal Effort Cytoreduction in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Perioperative Complications and Survival Outcomes from a Retrospective Cohort

Background: Rates of maximal effort cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer patients increase gradually the last decade. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate factors that contribute to survival and morbidity outcomes in this group of patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patient records of epithelial ovarian cancer patients with an intermediate and high Mayo Clinic surgical complexity score, operated between January 2010 and December 2018. Results: Overall, 107 patients were enrolled in the present study with a median age of 62 years (23–84) and a follow-up of 32 months (2–156). Thirteen Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa complications were documented in 10 patients (9.3%). Of all the investigated factors, only stage IVb (p = 0.027) and interval debulking surgery (p = 0.042) affected overall survival rates. Overall survival outcomes of patients operated on a primary setting started to differentiate compared to those that received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy after the 4th postoperative year. Conclusions: Maximal effort cytoreductive procedures should be considered feasible in the modern surgical era, as they are accompanied by acceptable rates of perioperative morbidity. Hence, every effort should be made to perform them in the primary setting, rather than following neoadjuvant chemotherapy as current evidence favor increased survival rates of patients that will likely surpass an interval of observation of more than 4 years.