Results of interval debulking surgery in advanced stage ovarian cancer: an exposed–non-exposed study

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Abstract
Background: To study the results of interval debulking surgery (IDS) in patients treated for ‘unresectable’ advanced stage ovarian cancer compared with primary debulking surgery (PDS) followed by chemotherapy. Patients and methods: An exposed–non-exposed study including a group of 34 patients who underwent an IDS and were matched to an historic control group of 34 patients treated with PDS. Results: Optimal cytoreductive surgery was achieved in 94% (32 out of 34) of patients in both groups. The rates of post-operative morbidity, blood transfusion and median length of hospitalisation were significantly reduced in the study (IDS) group, but survival did not differ in both groups. Conclusions: IDS in patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer offers the same chance of survival as PDS, but it is better tolerated.