Risk Factors for Postoperative Complications After Vulvar Surgery

Abstract

Background/aim: Although the trends of surgical treatment in vulvar cancer patients are towards less extended resections, a significant number of cases are still diagnosed with locally advanced diseases imposing performing extended resections. The aim of this paper is to identify the prognostic factors for the development of early postoperative complications following vulvar surgery.

Patients and methods: Between 2017 and 2019, 145 patients with vulvar cancer were submitted to surgery with a curative intent.

Results: Among these cases there were 93 cases diagnosed with early stages of the disease and 52 cases diagnosed with advanced stages. The risk of postoperative complications was significantly influenced by: i) the stage of the disease, ii) the preoperative levels of serum albumin, iii) the status of the resection margins, iv) previous history of irradiation, v) length of hospital stay and vi) association of comorbidities.

Conclusion: Vulvar cancer surgery for locally advanced disease is still associated with high rates of postoperative complications, and an attentive selection of cases submitted to surgery is mandatory.

Keywords: Postoperative complications; extended resections; vulvar cancer.