Abstract
To evaluate the mortality and morbidity related to bowel resection in women with advanced ovarian carcinoma. Retrospective case series of 47 women with stage III and IV carcinoma ovary who underwent bowel resection, over the period of 5 years from Jan 2011 to Dec 2015. The risk factors for perioperative morbidity and death were determined by regression analysis. The disease free and overall survival were determined by Kaplan-Meier plots. In this cohort, 64% (30/47) had primary debulking, 21% (10/47) had interval debulking, and 15% (7/47) had secondary debulking. The mean period of follow-up was 23 months (1 to 45 months). There were no anastomotic leaks. The commonest morbidities were relaparotomy (8.5%), surgical site infection (12%), and paralytic ileus (19%). The overall morbidity was 42.6% (20/47). The 30-day mortality was 4.2% (2/47). The recurrence rate was 51% (20/47). The overall mortality from ovarian cancer in this cohort was 40% (19/47) during the follow-up period. Stage and histology seemed to be important risk factors for morbidity. Low BMI and sub-optimal debulking were significant risk factors for recurrence and death in univariate analysis. Bowel resection, in optimally selected cases of advanced carcinoma ovary, is often required for optimal cytoreduction. It carries a reasonable peri-operative mortality and morbidity and improves overall survival.