Choosing an experienced surgeon, and a medical center accustomed to your type of surgery, is key.
- As with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with ovarian cancer surgery.
- One of the best ways to lower your risk is to choose a doctor who regularly performs your type of surgery in a facility accustomed to these types of procedures.
- Risks of ovarian cancer surgery are mostly related to a patient’s underlying medical conditions.
Surgery is one of the first lines of treatment for ovarian cancer, and as with any other medical procedure it is not entirely risk-free. Understanding the possible complications will help you and your surgeon be better prepared.
"Risks of ovarian cancer surgery are mostly related to a patient’s underlying medical conditions," says Dr. Jeanne Schilder, division director of gynecologic oncology at Indiana University Medical Center. But "even our older patients with some comorbidities (one or more chronic diseases or conditions) tend to have very favorable outcomes from the operation."
Read More Schilder discusses her patient's risks with them well before surgery. “I explain to them that they can experience a fair amount of blood loss during the operation” she says. “Cancer produces its own blood vessels. And this can lead to blood loss, which is typically well-controlled by the surgeon, but in some cases a blood transfusion may be necessary. We work very closely with the anesthesiologist maintaining the patient’s blood count, blood pressure, and making sure that they are stable during this large operation." Patients may develop blood clots in their leg or their pelvic blood vessels due to the nature of the operation. So they are provided with a low-dose blood thinner before surgery, and after surgery to reduce that risk. Another concern is the possibility of infections that can develop after surgery. Schilder is careful about reducing that risk with preoperative strategies for patients to start at home, and by providing intravenous antibiotics during the operation. Providers should counsel patients that infection is a possibility no matter how many precautions we take.
Underlying conditions such as severe heart disease can increase surgery risks significantly. “But, I would say for the average patient, the operation is very safe when you're in a medical center that is accustomed to doing these types of procedures, and where there's a coordinated staff of surgeons, anesthesiologists, and preoperative physicians who really help minimize the patient’s comorbidities and maximize their outcome.”
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