Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Metastases to the lesser sac (also known as the omental bursa) and its contents are frequently seen in advanced ovarian cancer. This would require a thorough and meticulous intra-operative surgical exploration and mapping for patients requiring radical supracolic omentectomy requiring sacrifice of the gastro-epiploic arcade. We describe an educational surgical technique with maximum effort to preserve the right and left gastric arteries, when the right and left gastro-epiploic arteries and short gastric arteries are divided. These steps are demonstrated with attention to anatomical landmarks of the lesser sac to minimise intraoperative and postoperative morbidity. This surgical approach will not only spare the gastric branches of the vagus nerve (rami gastrici) but also prevent gastric ischaemic changes. We describe the case of a 77-year-old female patient diagnosed with stage 3C high grade serous ovarian/tubal cancer on the neoadjuvant chemotherapy pathway, undergoing delayed debulking surgery. The gynaecological oncology surgeon should confidently hold detailed knowledge of upper abdominal anatomy in their armamentarium, to maximise the safety and efficacy of ultra-radical surgery to achieve R0 (no residual disease); which is a single independent risk factor for survival. This video demonstrates a challenging case with an undesirable location of metastatic disease requiring advanced upper abdomen surgical skills and knowledge, with specific consideration of intraoperative multidisciplinary decision-making.

Original publication

DOI

10.21037/tcr-24-950

Type

Journal article

Journal

Transl Cancer Res

Publication Date

31/01/2025

Volume

14

Pages

651 - 655

Keywords

Lesser sac, cytoreduction, gastrohepatic ligament, omental bursa, ovarian cancer