title: Incidence of and risk factors for postoperative ileus in women undergoing primary staging and debulking for epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thorough primary cytoreduction for epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) improves survival. The incidence of postoperative ileus (POI) in these patients may be underreported because of varying POI definitions and the evolving, increasingly complex contemporary surgical approach to EOC. We sought to determine the current incidence of POI and its risk factors in women undergoing debulking and staging for EOC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively identified the records of women who underwent primary staging and cytoreduction for EOC between 2003 and 2008. POI was defined as a surgeon's diagnosis of POI, return to nothing-by-mouth status, or reinsertion of a nasogastric tube. Perioperative patient characteristics and process-of-care variables were analyzed. Univariate analyses were used to identify POI risk factors; variables with P ≤.20 were included in multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 587 women identified, the overall incidence of POI was 30.3% (25.9% without bowel resection, 38.5% with bowel resection; P=.002). Preoperative thrombocytosis, involvement of bowel mesentery with carcinoma, and perioperative red blood cell transfusion were independently associated with increased POI. Postoperative ibuprofen use was associated with decreased POI risk. Women with POI had a longer length of stay (median, 11 vs 6 days) and increased time to recovery of the upper (7.5 vs 4 days) and lower (4 vs 3 days) gastrointestinal tract (P<.001 for each).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of POI is substantial among women undergoing staging and cytoreduction for EOC and is associated with increased length of stay. Modifiable risk factors may include transfusion and postoperative ibuprofen use. Alternative interventions to decrease POI are needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. bakkum.jamie@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Jamie N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Bakkum-Gamez
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Langstraat
authors.forename: Janice R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Maureen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lemens
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Sumer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allensworth
authors.forename: Sean C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dowdy
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Cliby
authors.forename: Bobbie S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Gostout
authors.forename: Karl C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Podratz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors