INTRODUCTION: The cornerstone of ovarian cancer treatment has been the association of debulking surgery with platinum based chemotherapy. When this neoplasm invades adjacent pelvic organs, in order to attain an optimal debulking should be performed an en bloc multivisceral pelvic resection. AIM: The objectives of this study were to assess the safety, efficacy and impact on survival of low anterior en bloc resection for primary advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: Complete follow-up data were available on 19 patients who underwent this surgical procedure for advanced ovarian cancer between January 1996 and June 2006. These subjects presented a median age of 58 years (24-77). All patients underwent optimal cytoreduction (less than 1cm of residual disease). RESULTS: The postoperative mortality was 5 % (n=1) while overall major morbidity was 26,3 % (n=5).The overall three-year survival rate was 77 % while median of survival time was 42 months. CONCLUSIONS: Low anterior en bloc resection, when it is necessary must not be obstacle to obtain an optimal surgery. In despite its high morbidity presents acceptable mortality. Long-term disease control may be attained with this approach.
Pelvic Exenteration; Ovarian Cancer; Morbidity; Mortality; Treatment Outcome
