Gp. Yazdi et al., HIGH MORTALITY AFTER ABDOMINAL OPERATION IN PATIENTS WITH LARGE-VOLUME MALIGNANT ASCITES, Journal of surgical oncology, 62(2), 1996, pp. 93-96
Advanced intra-abdominal cancers are frequently associated with malign
ant ascites. The aim of this study was to document the frequency and c
linical course of patients found to have large-volume (greater than or
equal to 3 L) malignant ascites when undergoing a major abdominal ope
ration. Between October 1, 1987 and September 1, 1992, 385 patients wi
th malignant ascites were admitted to hospitals associated with a univ
ersity medical center. Seventeen with large volume ascites underwent e
xploration for palliation of bowel obstruction or debulking of tumor.
Operative mortality was 41% and mortality correlated with the presence
of a nonovarian primary and advanced age. We conclude that patients w
ith large volume nonovarian malignant ascites have a high mortality ra
te following a major abdominal operation. New approaches such as neoad
juvant or intraperitoneal chemotherapy or possibly peritoneovenous shu
nt placement at the time of the abdominal operation, are needed to imp
rove the dismal results in this subgroup of patients. (C) 1996 Wiley-L
iss, Inc.