paywalled: Incidence of and risk factors for postoperative ileus in women undergoing primary staging and debulking for epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Blogger's Note/Opinion: in ovarian cancer this issue is seemingly underreported; from a patient's perspective it  is underreported, abstract does not indicate expertize/impact/outcomes according to surgical skill/professional nor long term effects/in depth cause-related issues;


Medscape:  Ileus occurs from hypomotility (decreased motility)  of the gastrointestinal tract in the absence of mechanical bowel obstruction. Presumably, the muscle of the bowel wall is transiently impaired and fails to transport intestinal contents. This lack of coordinated propulsive action leads to the accumulation of gas and fluids within the bowel.....
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Incidence of and risk factors for postoperative ileus in women undergoing primary staging and debulking for epithelial ovarian carcinoma:

Objective 
Thorough primary cytoreduction for epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) improves survival. The incidence of postoperative ileus (POI) in these patients may be underreported because of varying POI definitions and the evolving, increasingly complex contemporary surgical approach to EOC. We sought to determine the current incidence of POI and its risk factors in women undergoing debulking and staging for EOC.

Methods 
We retrospectively identified the records of women who underwent primary staging and cytoreduction for EOC between 2003 and 2008. POI was defined as a surgeon's diagnosis of POI, return to nothing-by-mouth status, or reinsertion of a nasogastric tube. Perioperative patient characteristics and process-of-care variables were analyzed.

Results 
Among 587 women identified, the overall incidence of POI was 30.3% (25.9% without bowel resection, 38.5% with bowel resection; P =.002). Preoperative thrombocytosis, involvement of bowel mesentery with carcinoma, and perioperative red blood cell transfusion were independently associated with increased POI. Postoperative ibuprofen use was associated with decreased POI risk. Women with POI had a longer length of stay (median, 11 vs 6days) and increased time to recovery of the upper (7.5 vs 4days) and lower (4 vs 3days) gastrointestinal tract (P <.001 for each).

Conclusions 
The rate of POI is substantial among women undergoing staging and cytoreduction for EOC and is associated with increased length of stay. Modifiable risk factors may include transfusion and postoperative ibuprofen use. Alternative interventions to decrease POI are needed.