1094 MIRRORS study: a prospective cohort study assessing the feasibility of robotic interval debulking surgery for advanced-stage ovarian cancer

Introduction/Background*

MIRRORS (Minimally Invasive Robotic surgery, Role in optimal debulking Ovarian cancer, Recovery & Survival) is the largest prospective cohort study of robotic interval debulking surgery (IDS) in women with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) to date. MIRRORS has investigated the feasibility of obtaining consent from women, the acceptability and success of robotic IDS and its impact on short-term surgical outcomes and quality of life.

Methodology

Eligibility

Women with FIGO IIIc-IVb EOC undergoing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and suitable for IDS. Exclusions: pelvic mass >8cm, extensive HPB and/or extensive bowel involvement. Surgery commenced with an initial laparoscopic assessment, for all women recruited, followed by a decision to proceed immediately to robotic or open IDS.

Result(s)*

23/24 eligible women recruited. Following initial diagnostic laparoscopy, 20 women proceeded directly to robotic IDS, 3 women received open IDS. All patients were debulked with maximal surgical effort to R<1, 39% to R=0. No robotic cases were converted to open. Median EBL for robotic IDS: 50ml, open: 2026ml, median operating time 05:58 robotic vs 05:38 open, length of stay (LOS) 1.5 days robotic vs 6 days open. Bowel resection with stapled anastomosis 15% (3/20), diaphragmatic stripping 60% (12/20), full-thickness diaphragmatic resection 5% (1/20), pelvic peritoneal stripping 70% (14/20).

Conclusion*

MIRRORS has shown significantly enhanced recovery with short LOS, reduced blood loss and reduced HDU/ITU demands, enabling faster re-commencement of chemotherapy in women with FIGO IIIc-IVb EOC. This proved to be greatly beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic. In experienced hands robotic IDS proved feasible in cases with a pelvic mass up to 8cm. Robotic surgery is not suitable for peritoneal disease covering the anterior abdominal wall close to port sites but does facilitate pelvic and diaphragmatic stripping and arguably provides better visualisation of these peritoneal surfaces in women with high BMI. The planned multicentre MIRRORS-RCT will assess whether robotic IDS offers improved quality of life and recovery with non-inferior progression-free and overall survival. We present the evolution of our surgical technique with illustrative surgical videos and qualitative patient feedback, supported by the objective surgical outcomes for this trial.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials

gov: NCT04402333 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04402333)

ISRCTN

ISRCTN74222598 (https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN74222598)