Risk Factors for Anastomotic Leakage in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Surgery: A Large Single-Center Experience

Impact of postoperative morbidity on outcomes in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer undergoing intestinal surgery at the time of primary or interval cytoreductive surgery: A Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Team Ovary study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of short-term postoperative complications on oncologic outcomes for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery (PCS) or interval cytoreductive surgery (ICS) with intestinal resection.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed for patients with ovarian cancer who underwent PCS or ICS with at least one intestinal resection at our institution from 1/1/2015 to 12/31/2020. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed for the PCS and ICS cohorts separately. Short-term complications within 30 days of surgery (surgical secondary events [SSEs]) were graded by a validated institutional SSE system.

RESULTS

Among 437 patients who underwent intestinal resections during PCS (n = 289) or ICS (n = 148), 183 (42%) had one, 180 (41%) had two, and 74 (17%) had three intestinal resections. Six (1.4%) of 437 patients experienced an anastomotic leak postoperatively. There were no perioperative deaths. There was no difference in PFS and OS for patients who underwent PCS with any SSE vs. no SSE within 30 days of surgery (HR, 1.05; 95% CI: 0.76-1.47; p = 0.75 and HR, 0.79; 95% CI: 0.49-1.26; p = 0.32, respectively). There was no difference in PFS and OS for patients who underwent ICS with any SSE vs. no SSE within 30 days of surgery (HR, 1.43; 95% CI: 0.99-2.07; p = 0.055 and HR. 1.18; 95% CI: 0.72-1.93; p = 0.52, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Short-term postoperative morbidity for patients who underwent intestinal surgery during primary surgical management for advanced ovarian cancer did not impact oncologic outcomes.

The clinical predictive value of geriatric nutritional risk index in elderly rectal cancer patients received surgical treatment after neoadjuvant therapy

Objective

The assessment of nutritional status has been recognized as crucial in the treatment of geriatric cancer patients. The objective of this study is to determine the clinical predictive value of the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) in predicting the short-term and long-term prognosis of elderly rectal cancer (RC) patients who undergo surgical treatment after neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods

Between January 2014 and December 2020, the clinical materials of 639 RC patients aged ≥70 years who underwent surgical treatment after neoadjuvant therapy were retrospectively analysed. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for baseline potential confounders. Logistic regression analysis and competing risk analysis were conducted to evaluate the correlation between the GNRI and the risk of postoperative major complications and cumulative incidence of cancer-specific survival (CSS). Nomograms were then constructed for postoperative major complications and CSS. Additionally, 203 elderly RC patients were enrolled between January 2021 and December 2022 as an external validation cohort.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that GNRI [odds ratio = 1.903, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.120-3.233, p = 0.017] was an independent risk factor for postoperative major complications. In competing risk analysis, the GNRI was also identified as an independent prognostic factor for CSS (subdistribution hazard ratio = 3.90, 95% CI: 2.46-6.19, p < 0.001). The postoperative major complication nomogram showed excellent performance internally and externally in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration plots and decision curve analysis (DCA). When compared with other models, the competing risk prognosis nomogram incorporating the GNRI achieved the highest outcomes in terms of the C-index, AUC, calibration plots, and DCA.

Conclusion

The GNRI is a simple and effective tool for predicting the risk of postoperative major complications and the long-term prognosis of elderly RC patients who undergo surgical treatment after neoadjuvant therapy.

Anastomotic leakage after resection of the rectosigmoid colon in primary ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study is to evaluate the risk factors of anastomotic leakage (AL) and develop a nomogram to predict the risk of AL in surgical management of primary ovarian cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 770 patients with primary ovarian cancer who underwent surgical resection of the rectosigmoid colon as part of cytoreductive surgery between January 2000 to December 2020. AL was defined based on radiologic studies or sigmoidoscopy with relevant clinical findings. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factor of AL, and a nomogram was developed based on the multivariable analysis. The bootstrapped-concordance index was used for internal validation of the nomogram, and calibration plots were constructed.

RESULTS

The incidence of AL after resection of the rectosigmoid colon was 4.2% (32/770). Diabetes (OR 3.79; 95% CI, 1.31-12.69; p = 0.031), co-operation with distal pancreatectomy (OR, 4.8150; 95% CI, 1.35-17.10; p = 0.015), macroscopic residual tumor (OR, 7.43; 95% CI, 3.24-17.07; p = 0<001) and anastomotic level from the anal verge shorter than 10 cm (OR, 6.28; 95% CI, 2.29-21.43; p = 0.001) were significant prognostic factors for AL on multivariable analysis. Using four variables, the nomogram has been developed to predict anastomotic leakage: https://ALnomogram.github.io/ .

CONCLUSION

Four risk factors for AL after resection of the rectosigmoid colon are identified from the largest ovarian cancer study cohort. The nomogram from this information provides a numerical risk probability of AL, which could be used in preoperative counseling with patients and intraoperative decision for accompanying surgical procedures and prophylactic use of ileostomy or colostomy to minimize the risk of postoperative leakage.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Retrospectively registered.

A comparison of end-to-end and end-to-side anastomosis following rectosigmoid resection in ovarian cancer cytoreductive surgery

INTRODUCTION

A rectosigmoid resection with anastomosis is a common component of cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer. Evidence from colorectal studies suggests that end-to-side anastomoses may be associated with fewer complications than end-to-end approaches, but these have not previously been compared in an ovarian cancer patient cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Over a 51-month period, 239 patients underwent cytoreductive surgery for FIGO stage III/IV ovarian cancer. A rectosigmoid resection was performed in 79 (33.1%) with anastomosis in 59 (74.7%). Pre-operative and intra-operative factors associated with anastomotic leak, and post-operative complications were compared by anastomotic technique.

RESULTS

Anastomoses were end-to-end in 33 (55.9%) and end-to-side in 26 (44.1%) patients. There was a greater proportion of patients with a higher American Society of Anaesthesiologists score in the end-to-side group, but no other statistically significant differences in pre-or intra-operative factors between the groups. There were three (9.1%) cases of anastomotic leak in the end-to-end group, and no leaks in the end-to-side group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Both leaks were small, and successfully conservatively managed. There was no significant difference in rate of Clavien Dindo grade III/IV complications, although there was a higher rate of grade II complications following an end-to-side anastomosis (p = 0.036). There was no difference in length of stay, time to restarting chemotherapy, re-operation or 90-day mortality rate.

CONCLUSION

There was no significant difference in major morbidity following end-to-end or end-to-side anastomosis. Prospective randomised trials specifically focussed in ovarian cancer are needed.

Anastomotic Leakage after Colorectal Surgery in Ovarian Cancer: Drainage, Stoma Utility and Risk Factors

Objective: to evaluate the incidence of anastomotic leakage (AL), risk factors and utility of drainage and stoma in patients undergoing intestinal surgery for ovarian cancer in a single institution and in a review of the literature. Methods: retrospective study that includes consecutive patients undergoing debulking surgery with en bloc pelvic resection with rectosigmoid colectomy for ovarian cancer between 1 November 2011 and 31 December 2021. Data regarding patient and tumour characteristics, surgical procedure, hospitalisation, complications and follow-up were recorded and analysed. The PubMed database was explored for recent publications on this topic. Results: Seventy-five patients were enrolled in the study. All anastomoses were performed at a distance of >6 cm from the anal margin, with negative leak tests and tension-free anastomosis. Diverting stoma were performed in just three patients (4%). At least one perianastomotic pelvic drain was positioned in 71 patients (94.7%) and was removed on average on postoperative day 7. Four patients (5.3%) experienced AL. In all cases, the drain content was not the only sign of complication, as the clinical signs were also highly suggestive. Just one patient received conservative treatment. Average postoperative hospitalisation was 14.6 days (SD: ±9.7). There were no deaths at 30 and 60 days after surgery. Between the AL and non-AL groups, statistically significant differences were observed for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, length of the intestinal resection and fitness for chemotherapy at 30 days. In ovarian cancer, rectosigmoid resection is a standardised procedure with comparable results for AL, and risk factors for AL are discretely homogeneous. What is neither homogeneous nor standardised according to the literature is the use of stomas and/or drains. Conclusion: use in the future of protective stoma and/or intra-abdominal drains is to be explored in selected and standardised situations to verify their preventive role.

Postoperative paralytic ileus following debulking surgery in ovarian cancer patients

Aim

This study aims to evaluate the incidence of postoperative ileus (POI) following cytoreductive surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients and its impact on anastomotic leakage occurrence and postoperative complications.

Methods

A total of 357 surgeries were performed on 346 ovarian cancer patients between 1/2010 and 12/2020 at our institution. The postoperative course regarding paralytic ileus, anastomotic leakage, and postoperative complications was analyzed by Fisher's exact test and through ordinal logistic regression.

Results

A total of 233 patients (65.3%) returned to normal gastrointestinal functions within 3 days after surgery. A total of 123 patients (34.5%) developed POI. There were 199 anastomoses in 165 patients and 24 leakages (12.1%). Postoperative antibiotics (p 0.001), stoma creation (p 0.0001), and early start of laxatives (p 0.0048) significantly decreased POI, while anastomoses in general (p 0.0465) and especially low anastomoses (p 0.0143) showed increased POI rates. Intraoperative positive fluid excess >5,000 cc was associated with a higher risk for POI (p 0.0063), anastomotic leakage (p 0.0254), and severe complications (p 0.0012).

Conclusion

Postoperative antibiotics, an early start with laxatives, and stoma creation were associated with reduced POI rates. Patients with anastomoses showed an increased risk for POI. Severe complications, anastomotic leakages, and POI were more common in the case of intraoperative fluid balance exceeding 5,000 cc.