CYTOREDUCTIVE SURGERY FOR OVARIAN-CANCER WITH THE CAVITRON ULTRASONICSURGICAL ASPIRATOR AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION

Objective: To explore the association between the use of the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator for cytoreduction of ovarian cancer and the intraoperative development of disseminated intravascular coagulati on (DIC). Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all p atients undergoing surgery for ovarian cancer from September 1991 to F ebruary 1943. Data were extracted to correlate clinical and hematologi c evidence of DIC with and without intraoperative use of the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator. Statistical analyses were done by x(2) and analysis of variance. Results: Fifty-one patients underwent surger y for ovarian cancer; 33 had stage IIIB, IIIC, IV, or recurrent diseas e and could be evaluated for this study. Nineteen patients were treate d with the surgical aspirator, five of whom developed an intraoperativ e coagulopathy, as compared to none of 14 patients treated with conven tional cytoreduction (P < .04, x(2)) The duration of use of the surgic al aspirator correlated with the risk of coagulopathy (P < .001, analy sis of variance). Conclusion: These data suggest a potential risk of d eveloping DIC after extended use of the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical A spirator for cytoreduction of ovarian cancer.