Postoperative mortality after primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
Accurate estimation of the risk of postoperative mortality (POM) is essential for the decision whether or not to perform cytoreductive surgery in a patient with advanced stage ovarian cancer. To ascertain modern reference figures, a systematic review of studies reporting POM after primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) was performed.


METHODS
A Medline search was performed to retrieve papers on primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced stage EOC. Twenty-three papers met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed.


RESULTS
According to population-based studies, POM after primary cytoreductive surgery for EOC is 3.7% on average. Single centre studies report an average rate of 2.5%. The overall mean POM is 2.8%. POM is more frequent for elderly women and after extensive procedures. Accurate information on age-specific and procedure-specific rates could not be obtained.


CONCLUSIONS
POM rates after surgery for EOC are satisfactorily low. There is a clear need for reliable reference figures for mortality after debulking surgery in the elderly.
Gerestein
Cornelis G
CG
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. c.gerestein@erasmusmc.nl
Damhuis
Ronald A M
RA
Burger
Curt W
CW
Kooi
Geertruida S
GS
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects