Open AccessSplenectomy as Part of Primary Cytoreductive Surgery for Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Author(s) -
Ignacio Zapardiel,
Michele Peiretti,
Vanna Zanagnolo,
Roberto Biffi,
Luca Bocciolone,
Fabio Landoni,
Giovanni Aletti,
Nicoletta Colombo,
Angelo Maggioni
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of gynecological cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.901
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1525-1438
pISSN - 1048-891X
DOI - 10.1097/igc.0b013e3182571479
Subject(s) - medicine , splenectomy , perioperative , surgery , ovarian cancer , cohort , intensive care unit , cancer , stage (stratigraphy) , retrospective cohort study , mortality rate , spleen , paleontology , biology
Background The aim of surgical approach in advanced ovarian cancer should be the complete removal of all visible disease. Our purpose was to compare perioperative features and postoperative complications, and secondarily oncological outcomes, between patients who underwent splenectomy and those who did not at the time of surgery. Materials and Methods Thirty-three subjects underwent splenectomy, and we selected 99 controls with similar surgical characteristics but who did not undergo splenectomy. Data collected included perioperative details and follow-up data. Results Longer operating time (33 minutes longer; P = 0.02), larger estimated blood loss (812 mL more; P = 0.03), higher rate of intraoperative blood transfusions (78.8% vs 42.4%; P < 0.01), and intensive care unit stay (1.4 vs 0.5 days; P < 0.01) as well as higher pneumonia rate (2% vs 0%; P = 0.01) were observed in the splenectomy group. Disease-free and overall survival rates were 30.3% and 66.6%, respectively, in the splenectomy group, and 33.3% and 59.6%, respectively, in the control group. Conclusions Splenectomy at the time of primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer may contribute to achieve complete cytoreduction with low perioperative complication rate. This procedure seems to be an acceptable and rational intervention to increase the survival rates of those patients.