Intestinal obstruction in patients with ovarian cancer. Variables associated with surgical complications and survival

D. L. Clarke-Pearson, E. R. DeLong, N. Chin, R. Rice and W. T. Creasman
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

Intestinal obstruction is frequently encountered in patients with ovarian cancer. Surgical correction of intestinal obstruction may allow the prolonged survival of some patients. We identified prognostic factors associated with operative complications and postoperative survival. Multiple preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were considered. In addition, a previously published prognostic index was evaluated. Statistical assessment developed a model that demonstrated that the clinical assessment of tumor status, the serum albumin level, and the nutrition score were variables significantly associated with postoperative survival. The amount of residual ovarian cancer at the completion of bowel obstruction surgery was also significantly associated with postoperative survival. This information may aid in the preoperative selection of patients who might benefit from surgical correction of intestinal obstruction.