Reconsideration of the timing of surgery for intestinal obstruction in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer: a case report

Abstract

Background Intestinal obstruction is common in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer. In these patients, surgical decompression is only indicated if conservative treatment has failed. However, prolonged conservative treatment may increase the risk of perioperative complications. Early surgical intervention should be indicated depending on the patient’s individual characteristics. Case presentation We report a case of a 55-year-old woman who underwent exploratory laparotomy for intestinal obstruction and relapsed ovarian cancer. The patients received fifteen days of conservative treatment before the surgery. Severe enterogenic sepsis and hyperkalaemia occurred during intestinal decompression, increasing the risk of perioperative complications. Based on the patient’s history and clinical presentation, early operation should be considered. Conclusions For patients with intestinal obstruction related to relapsed ovarian cancer, it is important to have a full understanding of the disease and choose the optimal time of surgical intervention based on the individual situation.