Use of the ultrasound surgical aspirator in ovarian cancer: a case-controlstudy

Background: This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of the ultrasound surgical aspirator in ovarian cancer and to determine if cytoreduction was improved with its use. Methods: The study is a retrospective case control trial. Twenty-six consec utive ovarian cancer patients who had the ultrasound surgical aspirator use d during their surgery were retrospectively compared to 25 consecutive ovar ian cancer patients who did not have the;ultrasound surgical aspirator used during their surgeries. The latter group had their surgeries immediately b efore the ultrasound surgical aspirator was introduced into the hospital. B oth groups were similar in age, stage, histology type, grade, and median nu mber of chemotherapy cycles. Results: Patients that had the ultrasound surgical aspirator used had a 69% optimal cytoreduction rate compared to 16% in the control group (p = .001) . This was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Survival time was equal i n both groups. Conclusions: Results of the study showed that use of the ultrasound surgica l aspirator may permit more patients to be optimally cytoreduced.