Risk of Postoperative Pelvic Abscess in Major Gynecologic Oncology Surgery: One-Year Single-Institution Experience

Purpose. This study was undertaken to evaluate risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative abscesses in a large single-institution series of gynecologic cancer patients undergoing major surgery. Materials and Methods. Patients admitted to the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Catholic University of Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy, between January 2008 and February 2009, were retrospectively analyzed. The occurrence of pelvic abscesses was identified by sign and symptoms and confirmed with radiological and microbiological examinations. Results. A total of 360 patients were analyzed for the study. Exenteration and use of fibrillar absorbable hemostat were significantly associated with the presence of postoperative abscesses (P < .0001) by multiple regression analysis, whereas operative time, type of surgery, lymphadenectomy, or other associated surgical procedures failed to result statistically relevant. Conclusions. The use of fibrillar oxidized regenerated cellulose as hemostatic agent may represent a risk factor for postoperative abscesses, especially when used during pelvic exenteration.