The value of transitory protective stomas during primary debulking surgery for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer-- a retrospective cohort study

Objectives: Limited data are available on patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (OC) who require ostomy during primary cytoreductive surgery. This study aimed to investigate the application of postoperative and long-term oncological results from transitory protective stoma (TPS) formation during primary debulking surgery (PDS) for OC. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study with a single center. We identified patients with stage III-IV OC who underwent colon resection and anastomosis. Depending on the methods used after colorectal anastomosis and the outcomes of surgical resection, the patients were stratified into three groups: resection and end-to-end anastomosis, resection and ostomy, or R1 resection. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed. Results: 84 patients underwent colorectal resection during cytoreduction for FIGO stage III-IV OC. Patients undergoing ostomy were more likely to have a longer mean operative time (266 vs. 283 vs. 236 min; P =0.003) and to undergo rectosigmoid resection at the time of cytoreductive surgery (56.0% vs. 22.7%, P =0.007). Their postoperative feeding (7 vs. 1 vs. 3 d, P <0.001) and exhaustion (6 vs. 3 vs. 3, P <0.001) times were similar to those of patients with R1 resection and much earlier than those of patients with intestinal anastomosis. The first normal time (35 d) and half-life (14.68 d) of CA125 after surgery were significantly better in patients with TPS group. The overall incidence of complications was the same, and there was no significant difference in the 30-day readmission rate. The overall quality of life assessment was significantly lower in the R1 resection group. Conclusions: TPSs can accelerate postoperative recovery and the initiation of postoperative chemotherapy, reduce the risk of mortality and disease progression and limit the incidence of complications.