| Abstract: |
Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) followed by platinum-based chemotherapy is the cornerstone of treatment for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). While elderly patients are generally at an increased risk for perioperative morbidity, many studies demonstrate that the elderly are just as likely to bene fi t from aggressive standard of care treatment as are younger patients. Despite this, elderly patients with cancer are more likely to undergo substandard surgical management, resulting in poorer disease-speci fi c and overall survival. In order to optimize the bene fi t of CRS while minimizing the risks of perioperative complications, patients must be carefully selected and prepared for surgery. The following chapter presents the current evidence regarding CRS in older patients and reviews important aspects of patient selection, preoperative preparation, intraoperative techniques, postoperative care, and management of complications in older patients with EOC. © Springer-Verlag London 2013. |
