Secondary cytoreductive surgery including rectosigmoid colectomy for recurrent ovarian cancer: Operative technique and clinical outcome

Objective: To describe the operative technique and associated clinical outcomes of patients undergoing rectosigmoid colectomy as a component of secondary cytoreductive surgery for recurrent ovarian cancer. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing rectosigmoid colectomy for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer between 1/01 and 12/07 were retrospectively identified and clinical data abstracted from the medical record. The surgical technique, associated morbidity, and clinical outcomes are described. Results: Fifty-six patients were identified. The median age at secondary surgery was 56 years; 78.6% had advanced-stage disease at initial diagnosis; 69.6% had grade 3 tumors; 73.2% had serous histology. Complete cytoreduction to no gross residual disease was achieved in 85.7% of cases. Concurrent distal ureterectomy/partial cystectomy was required in 8 cases (14.3%). The median number of regional cytoreductive procedures outside the pelvis was 1 (range = 0-4). A stapled coloproctostomy was performed in 98.2% of patients; a protective colostomy/ileostomy was constructed in 7 cases (12.5%), and one patient (1.8%) underwent end colostomy. The median EBL was 500 cm³ and the median operative time was 225 min. Blood transfusion was administered to 48.2% of patients. Post-operative morbidity occurred in 23.2% of patients, with a bowel fistula rate of 5.4% and a mortality rate of 1.8%. The median LOS was 9 days. Post-operative platinum-based chemotherapy was administered in 73.2% of patients. The median overall survival time from secondary surgery was 38.4 months. Conclusions: Rectosigmoid colectomy can contribute significantly to a maximal cytoreductive surgical effort for recurrent ovarian cancer. Despite technical differences, including a frequent requirement for resection of the distal urinary tract, morbidity is comparable to rectosigmoid colectomy performed for primary cytoreduction and the associated survival outcome appears favorable.