Single-Institution Propensity-Matched Study to Evaluate the Psychological Effect of Minimally Invasive Interval Debulking Surgery Versus Standard Laparotomic Treatment: From Body to Mind and Back

Exploring Surgical Strategies for Uterine Fibroid Treatment: A Comprehensive Review of Literature on Open and Minimally Invasive Approaches

Background and Objectives: Uterine myomas represent one of the most prevalent pathologies affecting the female population. These benign neoplasms originate from the smooth muscular cells of the uterus, and they can be either single or multiple. Often associated with debilitating symptoms such as pelvic heaviness, pain, constipation, and urinary dysfunctions, the surgical management of myomectomy exhibits considerable variability. This diversity in approaches is influenced by factors such as the number and size of myomas, the patient's age, and overall clinical conditions. This study aims to elucidate and compare the advantages and disadvantages of different surgical approaches, specifically endoscopic procedures versus open surgery, providing valuable insights for clinical decision making. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive bibliographic search spanning from 2013 to 2023 was systematically conducted across databases including Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The search utilized keywords such as "myomectomy laparoscopic and open", "myomectomy open and minimally invasive", "myomectomy open and laparoscopic", and "myomectomy open vs. laparoscopic." The research methodology, along with predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, was established prior to the search, ensuring a systematic and rigorous approach. Subsequently, data analysis was carried out. Results: Following the study selection process, 25 articles met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in this analysis. The average numbers of myomas were 3.7 (ranging from 1 to 13.7) and 5.4 (ranging from 1 to 13.5) for the minimally invasive surgery and open surgery groups, respectively. In terms of myoma size, the total averages across studies were 7 cm (ranging from 4.8 to 14) for the minimally invasive group and 8 cm (ranging from 3.9 to 11.2) for the open surgery group. The average pregnancy and delivery rates were 29.7% (ranging from 1.8 to 100) for the minimally invasive group and 28.5% (ranging from 1.8 to 100) for the open surgery group. Regarding complications, the average rate was 14.2% (ranging from 0 to 50) for the endoscopic group and 22.3% (ranging from 0 to 60.3) for the laparotomic group. Conclusions: In conclusion, a critical factor influencing the choice of surgical approach is primarily the size and quantity of fibroids. The mini-laparotomic approach emerges as a viable alternative to endoscopy, demonstrating favorable surgical outcomes and aesthetic results. Interestingly, the type of surgical procedure appears to have no significant impact on the pregnancy rate.

Post Treatment Sexual Function and Quality of Life of Patients Affected by Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review

Introduction: The aim of this study is to analyze the available scientific evidence regarding the quality of life (QoL) and sexual function (SF) in patients affected by cervical cancer (CC) after surgical and adjuvant treatments. Materials and Methods: Preliminary research was conducted via electronic database (MEDLINE, PubMed and Cochrane Library) with the use of a combination of the following keywords: SF, QoL, and CC. The principal findings considered in the present review were the study design, the number of patients included in each study, the information about the malignancy (histology and stage of disease), the questionnaires administered, and the principal findings concerning SF and QoL. Results: All studies were published between 2003–2022. The studies selected consisted of one randomized control study, seven observational studies (three prospective series), and nine case control studies. The scores used were focused on SF, QOL, fatigue, and psychological aspects. All studies reported a decreased SF and QOL. The most developed questionnaires were the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS). Discussion: All studies reported a decreased SF and QOL. In addition to the perception of body image, several factors coexist in influencing the outcomes such as the physical, hormonal, psychological. Conclusions: Sexual dysfunction after CC treatment has a multifactorial aetiology which negatively affects the quality of life. For these reasons, it is important to follow and support patients with a multidisciplinary team (doctors, nurses, psychologists, dieticians) before and after therapy. This type of tailored therapeutic approach should become a standard. Women should be informed about possible vaginal changes and menopausal symptoms after surgery and on the positive effects of psychological therapy.

Needleoscopic-assisted risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: Peri-operative outcomes and psychological impact

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of needleoscopic-assisted laparoscopy in terms of surgical impact and psychological outcomes in RR-BSO for BRCA1/2 patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective monocentric trial conducted at the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, "Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli" IRCSS in Rome. Between March 2016 and March 2018, 26 consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled in the study and underwent RR-BSO. Peri-operative surgical variables were collected. The psychological interview was performed at the discharge and during the first post-operative follow-up visit (between 30 and 60 days after surgery).

RESULTS

We reported a median OT of 18.5 min (range, 15-37), a median EBL of 0 mL (0-20), and no conversion to laparoscopy or laparotomy. The median VAS score was "at rest" of 2, 3, and 1; while under "Valsalva maneuver" was 4, 3, 2, respectively at 2, 4, and 24 h. 77% (20/26) of the whole population had a previous diagnosis of breast cancer. All patients expressed great cosmetic satisfaction both at discharge and after 30/60 days, with an 84.6% of score 5 and a 15.4% of score 4. The highest number of "score 5", concerning the cosmetic outcomes, were clustered in the subgroup of breast cancer survivors with a 95% of score 5 versus 50% of score 5 in patients with no previous breast cancer (p = 0.0073). Similarly, the maximal psychological advantage of the ultra-MIS approach was revealed in the breast cancer survivors (70% of score 5 versus 16% of score 5, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of 2.4 mm instruments raises the possibility of decreasing post-operative incisional pain, reducing hospitalization, and ensuring better cosmetic and psychological outcomes without increasing complications. The full psychosomatic benefit of ultra-MIS within BRCA mutation carriers is revealed in breast cancer survivors, probably due to the comparison with the mutilating and invasive previous breast surgery.

Different Surgical Approaches for Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer Staging. A Large Monocentric Experience

Introduction

Ovarian cancer is the third most frequent gynecological cancer. In early stage ovarian cancer (ESOC) comprehensive surgical staging is recommended. Surgical staging is traditionally approached by laparotomy, although minimally invasive surgery can be a valid alternative in selected patients. This study aims to analyze the surgical and oncological outcomes of three different surgical approaches in a large series of patients.

Methods

We retrospectively included all histologically proven ESOC cases treated between January 2014 and December 2017. ESOC was defined as stage IA to IIB according to the 2018 FIGO staging system. Subjects were divided into groups 1, 2, and 3, based on the surgical approach (open abdominal, laparoscopic, or robotic, respectively).

Results

Within patients enrolled during the study period, 455 met the inclusion criteria. No difference in intraoperative complications was recorded in the three groups (p = 0.709). Conversely, a significant difference occurred in postoperative complications (16.2 vs. 3.8 vs. 11.1%, in groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively, p = 0.004). No difference was found in overall survival (OS) (32 vs. 31 vs. 25 months, p = 0.481) and disease-free survival (DFS) (26 vs. 29 vs. 24 months, p = 0.178) in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. At univariate analysis FIGO stage I (p = 0.004) showed a lower recurrence rate compared to FIGO stage II.

Conclusion

No significant difference was found in OS and DFS among the three groups (open, laparoscopic, and robotic). The minimally invasive approach showed lower rate of complications than the laparotomic approach.

Update of Robotic Surgery in Benign Gynecological Pathology: Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: Since the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval in 2005, the application of robotic surgery (RS) in gynecology has been adopted all over the world. This study aimed to provide an update on RS in benign gynecological pathology by reporting the scientific recommendations and high-value scientific literature available to date. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed. Prospective randomized clinical trials (RCT) and large retrospective trials were included in the present review. Results: Twenty-two studies were considered eligible for the review: eight studies regarding robotic myomectomy, five studies on robotic hysterectomy, five studies about RS in endometriosis treatment, and four studies on robotic pelvic organ prolapse (POP) treatment. Overall, 12 RCT and 10 retrospective studies were included in the analysis. In total 269,728 patients were enrolled, 1721 in the myomectomy group, 265,100 in the hysterectomy group, 1527 in the endometriosis surgical treatment group, and 1380 patients received treatment for POP. Conclusions: Currently, a minimally invasive approach is suggested in benign gynecological pathologies. According to the available evidence, RS has comparable clinical outcomes compared to laparoscopy (LPS). RS allowed a growing number of patients to gain access to MIS and benefit from a minimally invasive treatment, due to a flattened learning curve and enhanced dexterity and visualization.

Ultra-minimally invasive surgery in gynecological patients: a review of the literature

In the last decade, Ultra-minimally invasive surgery (UMIS) including both minilaparoscopic (MH) and percutaneous (PH) endoscopic surgery achieved widespread use around the world. Despite UMIS has been reported as safe and feasible surgical procedure, most of the available data are drawn from retrospective studies, with a limited number of cases and heterogeneous surgical procedures included in the analysis. This literature review aimed to analyze the most methodologically valid studies concerning major gynecological surgeries performed in UMIS. A literature review was performed double blind from January to April 2021. The keywords ‘minilaparoscopy’; ‘ultra minimally invasive surgery’; ‘3 mm’; ‘percutaneous’; and ‘Hysterectomy’ were selected in Pubmed, Medscape, Scopus, and Google scholar search engines. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed for the drafting of the systematic review. The systematic literature research provided 298 studies, of which 9 fell within the inclusion criteria. Two hundred ninety-six total patients were included, 148 for both PH and MH groups. Median age (48 years), BMI (24 kg/m²), OT (90 min), EBL (50 ml), time to discharge (1 day), self scar evaluation (10/10), and VAS (3/10) were reported. The most frequent intraoperative complication in both the PH and MH groups was surgical bleeding. The UMIS approaches were feasible and safe even for complex gynecological procedures. Operative times and complications were superimposable to the “classical” minimally invasive approaches reported in the literature. The reported results apply only to experienced surgeons.

Surgical outcomes of diaphragmatic resection during cytoreductive surgery for advanced gynecological ovarian neoplasia: A randomized single center clinical trial - DRAGON

INTRODUCTION

Ovarian cancer (OC) represent nearly 4% of gynecologic malignancies and it is often diagnosed at advanced stage. Diaphragmatic surgery, a fundamental step of advanced stage ovarian cancer (ASOC) debulking surgery, is associated with a high post-operative complication incidence, which is supposedly reduced with thoracostomy tube placement. We assessed the role of intra-operative thoracostomy tube placement, as a prevention measure for post-operative complications, after diaphragmatic resection.

METHODS

This was a single center prospective randomized trial. Ovarian cancer patients, who underwent mono-lateral diaphragmatic resection, were randomized 1:1 into two arms. Arm A included patients receiving intra-operative thoracostomy tube placement (TP); Arm B patients did not receive thoracostomy tube placement (NTP). After surgery, all patients underwent seriate chest x-ray and ultrasound to record thoracic complications. Statistical analysis included uni- and multivariable logistic regression model (proportional odds model).

RESULTS

Three hundred seventy-one patients were screened and 88 patients were enrolled: 44 in arm A and B, respectively. No statistically significant differences for intra-operative (p = 0.291) and any grade of post-operative complication (p = 0.072) were detected, while 6.8% of patients in arm A and 22.7% in arm B experienced severe respiratory symptoms (p = 0.035); 18.2% of patients in arm A had a moderate/large pleural effusion versus 65.9% in arm B (p < 0.0001). At multivariable analysis, results confirmed that the NTP-group had a higher risk to receive post-operative thoracostomy tube placement due to pleural effusion than the TP-group (odds ratio [95% Confidence Interval] = 14.5 [3.7-57.4]).

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracostomy intra-operative tube placement after diaphragmatic resection is effective to prevent post-operative thoracic complications. The extension of resection does not influence outcomes and the risk of post-operative thoracentesis or TP remain elevated.

Laparoscopic splenectomy both for primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer and for secondary surgery for isolated spleen recurrence: feasibility and technique

Background

This study investigated the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic splenectomy conducted in the contexts of both laparoscopic secondary surgery for isolated recurrence in the spleen and primary laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer.

Methods

We performed a perspective observational study including all consecutive patients with ovarian cancer who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy as part of primary cytoreductive procedures for advanced stage ovarian cancer or secondary surgery for isolated splenic recurrence between January 2016 and May 2020.

Results

We enrolled 13 consecutive patients, candidate to laparoscopic splenectomy as part of primary cytoreductive procedures for advanced stage ovarian cancer (6 patients) or secondary surgery for isolated splenic recurrence of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (7 patients). Median operative time (509 min [range, 200–845]) for primary cytoreductive surgery varied according to surgical complexity depending on the extensiveness of the disease. Median operative time for secondary surgery for isolated splenic metastasis was 253 min (90–380). Only 1 patient with isolated splenic recurrence required conversion to an open approach. No intraoperative complication occurred, and no intraoperative blood transfusions were required. Median hospital stay was 3 days (range, 2–5) for isolated recurrence and 9 days (7–18) for primary cytoreductive surgery. Complete tumor resection was achieved in all patients. Median time from surgery to adjuvant chemotherapy was 16 days (7–24). All six patients who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy during primary cytoreductive surgery remain alive, four of whom exhibit no evidence of disease (median follow-up 25 months [4–36]). Among patients who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy during secondary surgery for isolated splenic relapse, all patients are alive and only one had a central diaphragmatic relapse 2 years after surgery (median follow-up 17 months ([5–48 months]).

Conclusions

The laparoscopic approach to splenectomy is feasible and safe both in patients undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced stage disease and those with isolated recurrence of ovarian cancer, without compromising survival and allowing early initiation of postoperative systemic chemotherapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12893-021-01368-z.

Comparison of safety and efficacy between laparoscopic myomectomy and traditional laparotomy for patients with uterine fibroids and their effect on pregnancy rate after surgery

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the safety and efficacy between laparoscopic myomectomy and traditional laparotomy for patients with uterine fibroids and determine their effect on the pregnancy rate after surgery. In total, 86 cases with uterine fibroids were selected among patients who were admitted in the Zhangqiu District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital during the period of April, 2016 to April, 2017. Patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy were enrolled in group A (n=42), and those who underwent traditional laparotomy were placed in group B (n=44). The general linear data and the operative indicators were compared. The VAS scores, serum IFN-γ, IL-6, VEGF levels and clinical efficacy of the two groups were also compared one week after surgery. Postoperative pregnancy rates and complications in both groups were also compared. No significant differences were observed in general data between the two groups (P>0.05). The intra-operative blood loss in the group A was lower than that in group B (P<0.05), the average time of operation, hospital stays (days), and anal exhaust time in group A were shorter than those in group B (P<0.05). The pain degrees at 3, 6 and 18 h after surgery for patients in the group A were significantly lower than those of the group B (P<0.05). There was no significant difference IL-6 and VEGF levels in the serum between groups A and B before and after surgery (P>0.05); however, the level of IFN-γ expression, one week after surgery, in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.05). The pregnancy rate in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the incidence rate of complications in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P<0.05). Results presented in the present study suggested that compared to traditional laparotomy, laparoscopic myomectomy is a more advantageous method in terms of safety, efficacy and pregnancy rate after surgery.

Preoperative Prediction of Metastasis for Ovarian Cancer Based on Computed Tomography Radiomics Features and Clinical Factors

Background

There is urgent need for an accurate preoperative prediction of metastatic status to optimize treatment for patients with ovarian cancer (OC). The feasibility of predicting the metastatic status based on radiomics features from preoperative computed tomography (CT) images alone or combined with clinical factors were investigated.

Methods

A total of 101 OC patients who underwent primary debulking surgery were enrolled. Radiomics features were extracted from the tumor volumes contoured on CT images with LIFEx package. Mann-Whitney U tests, least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO), and Ridge Regression were applied to select features and to build prediction models. Univariate and regression analysis were applied to select clinical factors for metastatic prediction. The performance of models generated with radiomics features alone, clinical factors, and combined factors were evaluated and compared.

Results

Nine radiomics features were screened out from 184 extracted features to classify patients with and without metastasis. Age and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) were the two clinical factors that were associated with metastasis. The area under curves (AUCs) for the radiomics signature, clinical factors model, and combined model were 0.82 (95% CI, 0.66-0.98; sensitivity = 0.90, specificity = 0.70), 0.83 (95% CI, 0.67-0.95; sensitivity = 0.71, specificity = 0.8), and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.72-0.99, sensitivity = 0.81, specificity = 0.8), respectively.

Conclusions

Radiomics features alone or radiomics features combined with clinical factors are feasible and accurate enough to predict the metastatic status for OC patients.

A Prediction Model for Optimal Primary Debulking Surgery Based on Preoperative Computed Tomography Scans and Clinical Factors in Patients With Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the predictive value of preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans and clinical factors for optimal debulking surgery (ODS) in patients with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC).

METHODS

Patients with AOC in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III-IV who underwent primary debulking surgery (PDS) between 2016 and 2019 from nine tertiary Chinese hospitals were included. Large-volume ascites, diffuse peritoneal thickening, omental cake, retroperitoneal lymph node enlargement (RLNE) below and above the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), and suspected pelvic bowel, abdominal bowel, liver surface, liver parenchyma and portal, spleen, diaphragm and pleural lesions were evaluated on CT. Preoperative factors included age, platelet count, and albumin and CA125 levels.

RESULTS

Overall, 296 patients were included, and 250 (84.5%) underwent ODS. The prediction model included age >60 years (P=0.016; prediction index value, PIV=1), a CA125 level >800 U/ml (P=0.033, PIV=1), abdominal bowel metastasis (P=0.034, PIV=1), spleen metastasis (P<0.001, PIV=2), diaphragmatic metastasis (P=0.014, PIV=2), and an RLNE above the IMA (P<0.001, PIV=2). This model had superior discrimination (AUC=0.788>0.750), and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated its stable calibration (P=0.600>0.050). With the aim of maximizing the accuracy of prediction and minimizing the rate of inappropriate explorations, a total PIV ≥5 achieved the highest accuracy of 85.47% and identified patients who underwent suboptimal PDS with a specificity of 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a prediction model based on two preoperative clinical factors and four radiological criteria to predict unsatisfactory debulking surgery in patients with AOC. The accuracy of this prediction model needs to be validated and adjusted in further multicenter prospective studies.

Role of uterine manipulator during laparoscopic endometrial cancer treatment

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecologic malignancy with 61,000 new cases diagnosed per year in the USA. Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) LAP2 randomized study demonstrated a superimposable 5-year overall survival between laparotomic and laparoscopic approaches in EC treatment. In this context the uterine manipulator (UM) represents a valuable tool in order to increase the ergonomics of surgical gesture during a laparoscopic total hysterectomy. Despite the proven safety of the minimally invasive approach in EC treatment, neither the indication whether to use or not, nor the recommendation concerning a specific type of UM are provided by international guidelines. This narrative review aims to collect all the main findings in the literature about UM use to investigate its safety in EC patients. Based on the analysis of the literature research, the main results were categorized into two manipulator-related problems: the iatrogenic LVSI, and the retrograde tumor spillage. LVSI is defined as the presence of tumor cells within an endothelium-lined space. An electronic search was performed using the following keywords: 'uterine manipulator', and 'endometrial cancer'. The electronic database search provided a total of 93 studies. Of whom, 12 case reports, 5 studies not in English language, and 65 works not fitting the review scope were excluded from the analysis. Eleven studies were considered eligible for the purpose of the study. The most recent studies have highlighted the safety of the uterine manipulator in the early-stage EC laparoscopic treatment. All types of manipulators are considered to be fairly safe but its application should be tailored according to tumor dimension and grade of myometrial infiltration.

Sentinel lymph node for endometrial cancer treatment: review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy and in two thirds of patients it is apparently uterine confined at presentation. Lymph nodal status represents one of the main prognostic factors. Nodal evaluation with sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping has gained more ground in clinical practice after the publication of different studies demonstrating the feasibility and accuracy of this technique. However, at the moment there are no RCTs available evaluating the long-term oncologic safety of SLN technique compared to LND. This review aims at summarizing the available evidence on oncologic outcomes between SLN mapping alone and LND. Differences in operative complications and long-term complications were also analyzed.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The literature search was conducted in the PubMed database and it focused on comparative studies published from inception to September 2020 analyzing differences in oncological outcomes or complications between nodal evaluation with SLN technique alone and nodal evaluation with lymphadenectomy. Comparative studies with more than 10 cases, published in English, were included.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

A total of 5 retrospective comparative studies have been identified reporting data on oncologic outcomes of patients who underwent SLN mapping alone vs. LND. Non significative difference has been reported in terms of overall survival and recurrence free survival between the two groups. Six studies evaluated differences in terms of complications between the two techniques. A total of 2302 patients were identified. Postoperative complications were detected in 9.6% and 7.7% of patients who underwent lymphadenectomy and SLN mapping respectively and no significant difference was noted (P=0.3). Looking at major postoperative complications the rate in the LND group was significantly higher than in the SLN group (3.6% vs. 1.5%, P=0.02). Two of these six studies reported data on lymphatic long-term complications. The prevalence of lymphedema ranged from 0% to 1.3% in the SLN group and from 10% to 18% in the LND group. The absolute difference reported (13.35%) was similar to the one found in literature.

CONCLUSIONS

SLN mapping in apparently uterine confined disease has been demonstrated to be a feasible and accurate technique for nodal evaluation and high-quality evidence support this. Moreover, SLN mapping resulted to be associated with less major postoperative and long-term complications when compared to LDN. Conversely, high-quality evidence is not available on long-term oncologic safety of this technique compared to the standard LND. Randomized trials are requested to provide reliable data on this aspect.

Quality of life and sexual functioning of patient affected by endometrial cancer

INTRODUCTION

Thanks to timely diagnosis and medical advancement the number of endometrial cancer (EC) patients achieving long term survival is constantly increasing and here comes the necessity to move forward with the understanding of post-treatment sexual adjustment and with the strategies to enhance sexual functioning (SF) and quality of life (QoL) in this population. In this scenario we designed this study aiming to summarize and analyze the available scientific evidence regarding QoL and especially SF in patients affected by EC who underwent surgical and adjuvant treatment.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A preliminary research was conducted using Pubmed database with specific keywords combinations regarding SF, QoL and endometrial cancer. The main findings considered in the present review were: the study design, the number of patients included in each study, the information about pathology (histology and stage of disease), the questionnaires administered and the principal results concerning SF and QoL.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

A total of thirteen studies, between 2009 and 2018, treating the aspects of SF and QoL in patients affected by EC were extracted. The principal findings of different studies were organized in the following sections: 1) overall SF in EC patients (reasons for sexual inactivity); 2) impact of EC on SF when compared to benign gynecological disease or healthy controls-focus on surgery; 3) minimally invasive surgery versus classical laparotomic approach and SF of EC patients; 4) surgery alone versus VBT versus EBRT and SF of EC patients; 5) focus on RT; 6) the mutual correlation between sociodemographic, relational, psychological, clinical/metabolic factors and the SF of EC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the widespread diffusion of female sexual dysfunction among EC patients and the relatively good prognosis, especially in early stage disease, it undoubtedly looms the need for proactive countermeasures to maximize the sexual well-being and QoL of these patients. A wide range of intervention in a multi-modal physical and mental perspective should be considered.

Percutaneous-assisted vs mini-laparoscopic hysterectomy: comparison of ultra-minimally invasive approaches

To assess the feasibility and the safety of the ultra-minimally invasive (U-MIS) approaches in gynecology, we compared our experience in percutaneous assisted hysterectomy (PSS-H) with a series of 3 mm mini-laparoscopy hysterectomy (m-LPS-H). 126 patients affected by benign and malignant gynecological conditions were considered eligible for minimally invasive hysterectomy: 80 patients received PSS approach and 46 m-LPS approach. For both groups, we evaluated intra and perioperative outcomes, post-operative pain and cosmetic outcomes. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two study groups. As well, no differences were reported in the clinical indications for hysterectomy, principally fibroids/adenomyosis, endometrial hyperplasia and early stage endometrial cancer. The median operative time was 88.5 (40-190) minutes for PSS-H group and 95.0 (42-231) minutes in m-LPS-H group (p = 0.131). No differences were detected in median estimated blood loss (p = 0.104) as well, in the uterine manipulator usage (p = 0.127) between the two different surgical approaches. Only 1 (2.2%) conversion to standard laparoscopy occurred in m-LPS-H group (p = 0.691). One intra-operative complication was recorded 1 (1.3%) in the PSS-H group (p = 0.367). The post-operative early complication was recorded in five cases of PSS-H group (p = 0.158), none for m-LPS-H procedures. The results in post-operative pain detection was statistically significant after 4 h in favor of m-LPS-H group (p = 0.001). After 30 days no differences in cosmetic satisfaction were detected between the two groups (p = 0.206). PSS-H and m-LPS-H are two valid U-MIS alternatives for benign gynecological conditions and low/intermediate risk endometrial cancer.

Surgery vs. chemotherapy for ovarian cancer recurrence: what is the best treatment option

Nowadays, the best treatment option for ovarian cancer recurrence is often subjective, can vary in the different centers and depend on personal experience. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynaekologische Onkologie (AGO)-DESKTOP studies have identified a population of patients who could benefit from secondary surgery. The results of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG)-0213 study were recently published, which showed no advantage in terms of overall survival (OS) in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian undergoing secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) compared to chemotherapy alone. Aim of this narrative review is to summarize the best aspects that can make ovarian cancer recurrence patients suitable for SCS. A narrative review analyzing all the literature of the past 30 years has been performed. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Ovid MEDLINE were used for research. All non-English-language articles have been excluded. The following keywords were searched: 'recurrent ovarian cancer', 'secondary surgery', 'secondary cytoreductive surgery', 'platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer', 'platinum-resistant ovarian cancer'. We divided eligible patients for secondary cytoreduction in relation to the following factors: platinum-sensitivity, AGO-score or Tian model, unresectable lesions, surgical generic contraindication, woman's personal choice. The selection of truly suitable patients for surgery seems an essential requirement for the patient's best therapeutic choice. In case of absent post-surgical residual tumor, good performance status, single recurrence, and platinum-sensitive ovarian recurrence, surgery could be performed.

Percutaneous-Assisted versus Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Prospective Comparison

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of percutaneous approach, we prospectively compared our experience in percutaneous-assisted hysterectomy (PSS-H) with that in a series of laparoscopic hysterectomies (LPS-Hs).

METHODS

In this multicentric cohort study, from May 2015 to October 2017, 160 patients affected by benign and malignant gynecological conditions were considered eligible for minimally invasive surgery (MIS): 80 patients received PSS-H and 80 LPS-H. In each group, 30 cases of low-/intermediate-risk endometrial cancer were enrolled. For both groups, we documented preoperative outcomes, postoperative pain, and cosmetic outcomes.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were noted in baseline characteristics or operative time. We observed significant differences in estimated blood loss: median of 50 cc (PSS-H) and 100 cc (LPS-H) (p = 0.0001). In LPS-H, we reported 4 (5.0%) intraoperative complications and 1 (1.3%) in PSS-H. Thirty-day complications were 4 (5%) in PSS-H and 11 (13.8%) in LPS-H (p = 0.058). No significative differences were found in visual analog scale score, despite a relevant disparity in cosmetic outcome (p = 0.0001). For oncological cases, the 2 techniques had comparable intra- and postoperative outcomes and oncological accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we reported that PSS-H is comparable to LPS-H for intra- and perioperative outcomes and postoperative pain, while PSS-H seems to be superior in cosmetic outcomes and patient satisfaction. PSS-H may represent a valid alternative in ultra-MIS for benign gynecological conditions and low-/intermediate-risk endometrial cancer.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for ovarian cancer recurrence: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Ovarian cancer is the first cause of death among gynecological malignancies with a high incidence of recurrence. Different treatment options are suitable to prolong the survival rate of these patients. Over the last years, one of the most intriguing methods, adopted in different oncologic centers worldwide, is the hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Methods

A meta-analysis was performed to value the role of HIPEC for ovarian cancer recurrence. Search strategy was conducted with a combination of the following keywords: "ovarian recurrence, ovarian cancer recurrence, peritoneal cancer recurrence, ovarian recurrence AND HIPEC, secondary cytoreduction HIPEC". Seven studies were selected for analysis.

Results

In women with recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC), the use of HIPEC in addition to cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy significantly improved 1-year overall survival (OS) when compared to protocols without HIPEC (OR 2.42; 95% CI, 1.06-5.56; P=0.04; I²=4%). The improvement in OS was maintained significant also after 2, 3 and 5 years respectively (OR 3.33; 95% CI, 1.81-6.10; P<0.01; I²=0%), (OR 4.22; 95% CI, 2.07-8.60; P<0.01; I²=52%), (OR 5.17; 95% CI, 1.40-19.09; P=0.01; I²=82%).

Conclusions

HIPEC seems to have an effective role to prolong survival in patients affected by ROC.

Role of ultrasound in the detection of recurrent ovarian cancer: a review of the literature

Nowadays, no standard approaches for follow up in ovarian cancer (OC) patients exist. While the role of ultrasound (US) is well defined in primary diagnosis of OC, it is still controversial during follow-up of surgically treated OC. The aim of this narrative review is to evaluate the role described in literature of US imaging in the early detection of OC recurrences. A review of the English literature present in PubMed and SCOPUS of the past 30 years regarding the use of US in recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC) has been performed. The following keywords were searched: "ultrasound and recurrent ovarian cancer" and "intraoperative ultrasound and recurrent ovarian cancer". A total of 15 articles were selected. US was mainly adopted in the detection of recurrent pelvic disease after debulking surgery, after fertility sparing surgery (FSS) and as an intraoperative tool for localization of OC recurrences. If introduced as a standard follow-up procedure, US may have a central role in the early detection of pelvic OC recurrence, in ovarian localization of relapses of borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) and early stages disease treated with FSS; it may also play an important role in the intraoperative localization of previously suspected secondary lesions.

Secondary and tertiary ovarian cancer recurrence: what is the best management?

Ovarian cancer with complete clinical response recurs with a high rate. Recurrence is observed in almost 25% of cases with early-stage diseases and in more than 80% with more advance stages. Based on a platinum-free interval cut-off of 6 months, the first recurrence is usually classified in platinum-sensitive versus platinum-resistant, reflecting the biological characteristics underlying the clinical behavior. After this first recurrence, the patients are rarely cured, but second-line therapy can provide significant clinical responses, particularly in first platinum-sensitive recurrence. The approach to secondary and tertiary recurrence follows the same general principles applied in the first recurrence. Platinum-sensitivity based on the treatment-free interval defines the available chemotherapeutic regimens, whit less therapeutic options and a generally worse prognosis in platinum-resistant recurrent disease. Nevertheless, in this scenario, the introduction of new targeted therapies changed the prognosis of patients with both platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant recurrence. The first introduced antiangiogenic therapy resulted able to improve prognosis in recurrent disease both as a single-agent and combined therapy, although the growing adoption in the first line therapy requires further investigation to prove their efficacy after repeated use. More recently, the approach to secondary, tertiary, and later recurrence has been changed by the introduction of PARP inhibitors, which resulted effective as maintenance monotherapy in both platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant recurrence when the genetic background of the tumor allows their application with a significant improvement of oncological outcomes. Overall, although the growing body of promising therapeutic options to approach recurrent ovarian cancer, all the available evidence suggests that the best unique management of secondary and tertiary recurrence does not exist but should be personalized based on the disease characteristics, previous treatments, patient characteristics, and patient preference. On that basis, in this review, we report a general and complete overview of the approach at the secondary and tertiary ovarian cancer recurrence with the aim to provide a wide vision on the multiple available therapeutic options.

Laparotomy vs. minimally invasive surgery for ovarian cancer recurrence: a systematic review

The objective of the present review is to thoroughly investigate the role of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the setting of secondary cytoreduction for ovarian cancer recurrence, comparing this approach to traditional open surgery. PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Scopus and Web of Science databases (between 1st January 1989 and 1st January 2020), have been systematically queried to identify all articles reporting either laparoscopic or robotic-assisted secondary surgical cytoreduction for recurrent ovarian cancer. We also manually searched the reference lists of the identified studies. Only English language papers were considered. Two independent reviewers screened and identified the reports. A sub-analysis was performed including studies comparing MIS vs. open abdominal secondary cytoreduction. A total of 617 articles were considered. Among them, we included 12 retrospective studies on minimally invasive secondary cytoreduction, enrolling 372 patients (260 of whom were submitted to whether robotics or laparosopy). Three studies compared 69 patients who underwent MIS vs. 112 cases of open abdominal secondary cytoreduction. Other 9 articles described a total of 191 patients who had minimally invasive secondary cytoreduction for recurrent ovarian cancer without a comparative arm. The quality of the evidence was low. The decision regarding the use of MIS was left to surgeon's discretion; in general, the candidates to MIS were selected patients with single-site disease or few localizations of relapse. Compared to open surgery, MIS was associated with significantly lower blood loss, shorter hospital stay and less postoperative complications; the rate of complete cytoreduction to residual tumor =0 was 95.5% in MIS cases vs. 87.5% in laparotomy cases. The risk of complications was generally low. Disease-free and overall survival were comparable between groups. There is no consensus on the criteria to select patients for laparoscopic or robotic secondary cytoreduction. Intra-operative ultrasound has been proposed as a possible tool to better identify the site of recurrence and for confirmation of complete resection of disease. In conclusion, MIS is an option in selected patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, provided there is no widespread disease. Selection of patients appears of utmost importance to obtain satisfactory survival outcomes.

The robotic single-port platform for gynecologic surgery: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis

Since the first robotic single-site hysterectomy was performed, the research focused on the use of robotic single-site surgery (RSSS) for all gynecological conditions. This review aims to examine the studies available in the literature on RSSS in gynecology both for benign and malignant indications. The systematic review was carried out in agreement with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement (PRISMA). All the articles were grouped into three sets based on the surgical indication (Group 1, 2, and 3 for benign, malignant, and mixed diseases, respectively). Two hundred and fifty total studies were analyzed, and 27 articles were included in the review. A total of 1065 patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 605 patients were included in group 1, 260 in group 2, and 200 in group 3. Ten (1.7%) patients with benign pathology, 16 (6.2%) patients with malignant disease, and 5 (2.5%) patients with both diseases developed major complications. Two (0.3%) patients in group 1, 3 (1.2%) patients in group 2 and 5 (2.5%) in group 3 were converted to a different type of surgery. No significant differences were found between groups for BMI (p = 0.235), operative time (p = 0.723), estimated blood loss (EBL) (p = 0.342), and hospital stay (p = 0.146). The complications and conversions incidence through pooled analysis showed a higher general conversion rate (p = 0.012) in group 3 (3.0%) and higher complications rate (p = 0.001) in group 2 (5.3%) compared to the other groups. RSSS seems to be a feasible and safe procedure for all gynecological surgical procedures. A long-term analysis would be necessary before considering the RSSS oncologically safe for patients with malignant disease.

The INTERNATIONAL MISSION study: minimally invasive surgery in ovarian neoplasms after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to investigate the extent, feasibility, and outcomes of minimally invasive surgery at the time of interval debulking surgery in different gynecological cancer centers.

METHODS/MATERIALS

In December 2016, 20 gynecological cancer centers were contacted by e-mail, to participate in the INTERNATIONAL MISSION study. Seven centers confirmed and five were included, with a total of 127 patients diagnosed with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and minimally invasive interval surgery. Only women with a minimum follow-up time of 6 months from interval surgery or any cancer-related event before 6 months were included in the survival analysis. Baseline characteristics, chemotherapy, and operative data were evaluated. Survival analysis was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS : All patients had optimal cytoreduction at the time of interval surgery: among them, 122 (96.1%) patients had no residual tumor. Median operative time was 225 min (range 60 - 600) and median estimated blood loss was 100 mL (range 70 - 1320). Median time to discharge was 2 days (1-33) and estimated median time to start chemotherapy was 20 days (range 15 - 60). Six (4.7%) patients experienced intraoperative complications, with one patient experiencing two serious complications (bowel and bladder injury at the same time). There were six (4.7%) patients with postoperative short-term complications: among them, three patients had severe complications. The conversion rate to laparotomy was 3.9 %. Median follow-up time was 37 months (range 7 - 86): 74 of 127 patients recurred (58.3%) and 31 (24.4%) patients died from disease. Median progression-free survival was 23 months and survival at 5 years was 52 % (95% CI: 35 to 67).

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally invasive surgery may be considered for the management of patients with advanced ovarian cancer who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy, when surgery is limited to low-complexity standard cytoreductive procedures.

Robotic Single-Port Platform in General, Urologic, and Gynecologic Surgeries: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Robotic platforms have recently acquired progressive importance in different surgical fields, such as urology, gynecology, and general surgery. Through the years, new surgical robots have become available as single-port robotic platform. The study is aimed to value the single-port robotic platform characteristics in different surgical specialties.

METHODS

The terms "LESS" OR "single port" OR "single site" AND "robot" OR "robotic" were systematically used to search the PubMed and Scopus databases. A total of 57 studies were considered eligible for the present review. The articles included were divided according to the surgical field in which the study was conducted: General surgery (29 articles), Gynecology (18 articles), Urology (10 articles).

RESULTS

Most part of the articles showed the feasibility of robotic single-port surgical procedures and described advantages in terms of cosmetic, hospital stay, and in some series even cost reduction. A meta-analysis was conducted, showing a significant increment of complications using RSP if compared with SLPS and a trend (P = 0.008) when RSP was compared with LESS. The comparison of different techniques in terms of conversion to laparotomy did not show any significant difference.

CONCLUSION

Robotic single port potentially furnishes an important surgical and post-operatory improvement; however, some limits still prolong the surgical time and complication rate.

Arterial-enteric fistula after pelvic lymphadenectomy in secondary cytoreductive surgery for recurrent ovarian cancer

In 6.2% of gynaecologic malignancies, vascular involvement is reported. Cytoreductive surgery presents in those cases a higher rate of major complications. Arterial-enteric fistula is a very rare post-surgical complication with serious repercussions on the patient's life due to intestinal haemorrhage and the overlapping sepsis. This is the first case report about iliac-colonic fistula formation in recurrent ovarian cancer with lymph-node metastasis after laparoscopic secondary cytoreductive surgery in a 75-year-old woman and its successful surgical management. A literature review about arterial-enteric fistula formation in gynaecologic cancer treatment, specifically ovarian cancer, is also reported, hypothesising the risk factors of this severe postoperative complication and possible surgical solutions.

Laparoscopy vs. laparotomy for advanced ovarian cancer: a systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

In the last decade, laparoscopy has been progressively introduced in the management of advanced-stage ovarian cancer (AOC) to evaluate tumor resectability, avoiding an explorative laparotomy, to identify non-responders to submit to second-line chemotherapy and to perform primary or interval minimally invasive debulking surgery in selected patients. This review aims to deeply focus on the differences between laparoscopy and laparotomy in the management of advanced ovarian cancer.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The electronic database search provided a total of 80 results. Out of these, 63 results were excluded because considered not relevant to the review, for linguistic reasons or case reports. A total of 17 articles were considered eligible for the review.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Many studies have assessed the value of laparoscopy in predicting the optimal resectability of AOC patients avoiding exploratory laparotomies. More recently, its role in primary and interval cytoreduction has been investigated for selected patients in terms of safety, feasibility and oncological outcomes. Published data are comparable to the standard laparotomic management in terms of oncological outcomes but with improved perioperative and psychological results. The selection of patients is crucial to perform a successful surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

To date, laparoscopy has replaced the primary laparotomic approach in the evaluation of optimal resectability. As far as primary and interval minimally invasive debulking surgery are concerned, instead, most of the works report an overlap of oncological outcomes compared to traditional surgery. The selection of patients is a crucial point to reach a successful minimally invasive surgical treatment, taking into account surgical complexity and surgical adequacy.

Sexual function and quality of life of patients affected by ovarian cancer

INTRODUCTION

The sexual function (SF) in patients affected by malignancies represents an important aspect influencing the quality of life (QoL). The most frequent symptoms reported are the decreased sexual desire, dyspareunia, and/or problems with arousal or achieving orgasm. The present study is aimed at analyzing the available scientific evidence regarding the QoL and especially SF of patients affected by ovarian cancer who underwent surgical and medical treatment.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A preliminary research was conducted using Pubmed database with specific keywords combinations regarding SF, QoL and ovarian cancer. The principal findings considered in the present review were: the study design, the number of patients included in each study, the information about the malignancy (histology and stage of disease), the questionnaires administered and the principal findings concerning SF and QoL.

EVIDENCE SYNTESIS

The studies selected were 5 prospective series and 3 case control cross-sectional studies. The scores used were focused on SF, QOL, fatigue and psychological aspects. All studies reported a decreased SF and QOL. Different factors coexist in the influence on outcomes such as physical, hormonal, psychological, self body image, and mechanic outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

SF represents a fundamental aspect strictly related with QoL. Patients with ovarian cancer (as well all oncological patients) experience a reduction in their SF after diagnosis of malignancy and they should receive adequate counseling regarding this aspect.

Primary debulking surgery vs. interval debulking surgery for advanced ovarian cancer: review of the literature and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the seventh most common cancer among women in the world and the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancies. The standard treatment for advanced EOC consists of optimal primary debulking surgery (PDS) associated with an adjuvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and interval debulking surgery (IDS) have been proposed in the management of advanced EOC to increase the rate of complete citoreductive surgery and to reduce morbidity and mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis is conducted to compare the oncologic and postoperative outcomes of NACT and IDS with PDS followed by chemotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We conducted a search on the electronic databases PubMed/Medline, Cochrane and Scopus. All randomized controlled trials, cohort and case-control studies comparing PDS and IDS in ovarian cancer published in English until 28 February 2019 were considered eligible.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Twenty studies were included in the systematic review. As regards the meta-analysis, only studies that allowed the data we needed to be extracted were included: five were included for the evaluation of overall survival (OS) and PFS and 9 for the evaluation of major postoperative complications and days of hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

From the meta-analysis of the current available literature, none of the two investigated procedures has proven to be superior in terms of OS and PFS in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. However surgical complexity and postoperative complications are reduced in the IDS group.

Management of postoperative chylous ascites after surgery for ovarian cancer: a single-institution experience

Postoperative chylous ascites is a rare complication from operative trauma to the cisterna chyli or lymphatic vessels in the retroperitoneum. In the present study, we aimed to identify the incidence of postoperative chylous ascites in patients treated for ovarian cancer and to describe its management. We retrospectively reviewed all patients submitted to surgery for ovarian cancer at our Institution from October 2016 to November 2018. We analyzed the clinicopathological features, including the primary tumor histology, stage, grade, surgical procedure, median number of harvested pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes. We described our experience in the diagnosis and management of chylous ascites. Five hundred and forty-six patients were submitted to surgery for ovarian cancer and 298 patients received pelvic and/or para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Chylous ascites occurred in 8 patients with an incidence of 1.4% in the overall population and a 2.68% among patients receiving lymphadenectomy. All patients received total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with Olimel N4E 2000 mL (Baxter^®) and somatostatin therapy with 0.2 mL per 3 times/day for a median of 9 days (range 7-11). Median hospital stay was 15 days (range 7-16). All patients were successfully managed conservatively and none required surgical correction. Conservative management of chylous ascites with TPN, somatostatin and paracentisis is feasible and effective. These data should be confirmed by prospective multicentric studies.

Senhance robotic platform for gynecologic surgery: a review of literature

The advantages of endoscopic procedures are well demonstrated in various surgical procedures. In this field, the technological improvement has been significant. One of the most relevant was made by the introduction of robotic surgery that, thanks to the instruments articulation and the precision of movement, made possible to perform even the most complex procedures. The terms "Alf-X" OR "Senhance" OR "robot" OR "robotic" were systematically used to search the PubMed and Scopus databases. The principal findings considered in the present review were: the study design, the number of patients included in each study, operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), conversion rate to standard laparoscopy (SLPS) or laparotomy (LPT), post-operative complications, post-operative hospital stay, and the possible advantages and disadvantages reported by the authors of the studies. A total of eight studies were considered eligible for the present review. The average operative time for TH reported was 110-140 min. In two case-control studies, the operative time was significantly prolonged (P < 0.05) for robotic procedures when compared with SLPS. The EBL was ≤ 100 ml in all studies. Whereas no statistically significant differences were shown in the two case-control studies in terms of conversion to LPT, all studies were in accordance with the post-operative hospital stay, reporting an average of 2 days for total hysterectomy and 1 day for adnexal surgery.

Sarcopenia in Ovarian Cancer Patients, Oncologic Outcomes Revealing the Importance of Clinical Nutrition: Review of Literature

INTRODUCTION

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among gynecological malignancies. Its usual clinical manifestation is at advanced stages, with nutritional impairment, weight loss, and a consequent decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength (defined as sarcopenia). The relationship between sarcopenia and decreased survival was demonstrated not only in ovarian cancer but also in other cancer types, such as hepatocellular, pancreatic, lung, colon, cervical, metastatic breast, and renal cancer. The aim of this study is to review the current evidence regarding the relationship between sarcopenia and the surgical and oncological outcomes in ovarian cancer patients.

METHODS

The systematic search was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRSIMA) statement. The terms "SARCOPENIA" AND "OVARIAN CANCER" were systematically used to search PubMed and Scopus databases. Original reports in English language were identified, with the purpose to include all relevant papers regarding the role of sarcopenia and indicators of skeletal muscle quality assessment in gynecological ovarian cancer.

RESULTS

A total of 9 studies were considered eligible for the present review. The strength of recommendation was moderate and the level of evidence was low in all selected articles. No prospective studies were conducted and most of the papers were case-control series comparing ovarian cancer sarcopenic population vs. non sarcopenic population.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia appears to have an important role in oncological outcomes of ovarian cancer patients. However, sarcopenia occurrence during disease history and mechanisms underlying the possible impairment in prognosis should be better investigated. Prospective trials are awaited in order to obtain a better insight in this topic.

Cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC repetition for secondary ovarian cancer recurrence

Secondary and tertiary cytoreductive surgery was associated with improved overall survival in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC). Hyperthermic intraoperative intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is considered an attractive method in the treatment of ROC to deliver chemotherapy with enhanced effect directly at the tumor site. However, another deserving aspect is the feasibility and the oncologic role of HIPEC repetition. Twelve patients affected by secondary ovarian cancer recurrence previously submitted to cytoreduction followed by HIPEC were enrolled for the present study to receive tertiary cytoreduction followed by HIPEC repetition. The median operative time, including time for HIPEC procedure, was 360 min (range 240-540). Average EBL was 325 ml (from 100 to 500 ml). The median hospital stay was of 5 days, from 4 to 10. Low-grade post operatory complications occurred in 2 patients (16.6%) and high-grade complication in 1 case (8.3%). Our study report encouraging data about safety of HIPEC repetition in ovarian cancer treatment.

Upfront HIPEC and bevacizumab-containing adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

INTRODUCTION

In advanced epithelial ovarian cancer patients, the standard of care is primary debulking surgery, followed by first-line chemotherapy often with bevacizumab addiction. In this context, some experiences have shown that a comprehensive treatment approach to surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) could improve the prognosis.

OBJECTIVE

This is a study aimed to explore the feasibility of primary debulking surgery and HIPEC upfront followed by first-line therapy with bevacizumab.

STUDY DESIGN

Phase II monocentric, open label, non-randomised and single-arm study. Forty patients affected by advanced ovarian cancer submitted to primary debulking surgery with HIPEC were enrolled in the study. After surgery, all patients underwent systemic chemotherapy with bevacizumab addiction.

RESULTS

Complete cytoreduction (RT = 0) was achieved in all cases. Treatment-related early complications were observed in 23 patients and in 15 cases were G1-G2. Major complications were reported in 8 patients. No postoperative death was recorded. Subsequent chemotherapy was administered in all cases. Median time between surgery and first cycle of chemotherapy was 42 days (range 30-76). Concomitant bevacizumab was administered in 34 patients (85%). Maintenance with bevacizumab was feasible in 33 patients (82.5%) and its withdrawal was necessary for 1 patient (2.5%) due to G3 hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that HIPEC can be safely introduced in the upfront therapy of advanced ovarian cancer.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal malignancies using new hybrid CO2 system: preliminary experience in referral center

The most frequent peritoneal surface malignancies originate principally by gastric cancer, colorectal cancer and ovarian cancer. Apart from the origin, peritoneal carcinosis (PC) is considered a negative prognostic factor. The hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the treatment of peritoneal malignancies is considered an attractive method to deliver chemotherapy with enhanced effect directly at the tumor site. The use of such loco-regional approach has proved to improve prognosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis from different origins. Recently, new devices are suitable for loco-regional intraperitoneal chemotherapy as Peritoneal Recirculation System (PRS-1.0 Combat) with CO₂ technology. This is a retrospective study with the aim to assess the perioperative outcomes using PRS. Seventeen patients were enrolled affected by colorectal or ovarian cancer. Complete cytoreduction (RT = 0) was achieved for all cases. Median operative time was 420 min (range: 335-665) and median drugs dose used for HIPEC was 137 mg/m2 (115-756). Median EBL was 200 ml (range 50-1000). Median post-operative hospital stay was 9 days (range: 4-24). Treatment-related early complications were recorded in 8 (47.0%) cases and were G1-G2 Major complications occurred in two (11.7%) cases. Considering our aim to test the PRS in different cases and in different pathologies, the results confirmed that the technique is feasible with good perioperative outcomes.

A novel HIPEC technique using hybrid CO2 recirculation system: intra-abdominal diffusion test in a porcine model

The role of loco-regional treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis using intraperitoneal chemotherapy is still investigated. Actually, new technologies are suitable for these procedures, especially a new hybrid system using CO₂ called Peritoneal Recirculation System (PRS-1.0 Combat). A HIPEC procedure in a porcine model using the PRS system was conducted. The objective of experimentation was to assess the distribution of liquid inside the abdomen, by using methylene blue instead of chemotherapy. Moreover, we positioned six different thermal probes in different abdominal regions inside the abdomen to measure the temperature during procedure. During the procedure, all thermal probes recorded an average temperature of 41.5°. At the end of infusion, the abdomen was emptied and then opened; the tracer distribution was recorded. No technical problems were recorded during the procedure. Good distribution of tracer was recorded. More studies are needed to investigate better this new technology.