Assessment of morbidity and mortality in primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian carcinoma.

Even with wider application of cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer, there is still a lack of adequate documentation concerning morbidity and mortality associated with this surgery. The purpose of this paper is to provide such information. This report is based on a retrospective analysis of 60 patients with Stage III and IV disease who had maximal cytoreductive surgery at the Long Island Jewish-Hillside Medical Center between January 1975 and February 1982. This analysis was focused on variables related to morbidity and mortality associated with the procedure. The results indicated that operating time, blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative complications, postoperative morbidity, and the length of hospital stay were acceptable. Only one operative mortality was encountered. The presence of a gynecologic oncologist in the operating room was crucial in carrying out optimal cytoreductive surgery. It is concluded that morbidity and mortality in primary maximal cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian carcinoma are acceptable and the surgery should be performed if feasible.