Omentectomy is the surgical removal of the omentum in its entirety or part. The omentum is a fold of fatty tissue that surrounds the stomach, large intestine, and other abdominal organs inside the abdomen. Lymph nodes, lymph vessels, nerves, and blood vessels are all found within this fatty lining.
If malignant cells have infiltrated the omentum, an omentectomy may be suggested for a patient with ovarian cancer. The surgery can also be used to lower the risk of cancer spreading from the ovaries to the stomach and other abdominal organs.
Omentectomy is divided into the following two types:
- A total or supracolic omentectomy is when the omentum is fully removed by a surgeon.
- A partial omentectomy is when a section of the omentum is removed by a surgeon.
An omentectomy is frequently performed as part of a procedure to remove the main tumor. The treatment can be performed either traditionally with a single abdominal incision or laparoscopically with multiple tiny incisions.
Alternate Name For Omentectomy Surgery
Epiploectomy
Body Location
Omentum
How is Omentectomy Surgery is performed?
An omentectomy may be performed in conjunction with a hysterectomy to remove the uterus, an oophorectomy to remove one or both ovaries, and/or a salpingectomy to remove one or both fallopian tubes during ovarian cancer treatment. While surgery is commonly used to treat ovarian cancer, the best treatment depends on the stage and extent of the disease, the patient's overall health, and other considerations.
Preparation for Omentectomy Surgery
The doctor will perform the following tests a week or two before surgery to ensure that the patients are healthy enough for the treatment.
- Tests of the blood and urine.
- Chest X-ray of the patient's heart and lungs.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) to check one's baseline heart function.
Before your operation, check with your doctor to see if you need to stop taking any medications, vitamins, or herbal products. The doctor will tell you whether you can eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the surgery.
Procedure Type
Laparotomy
Follow Up
Chemotherapy is occasionally prescribed after an omentectomy or other ovarian cancer surgery to kill the remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy medications are typically supplied intravenously (into a vein) or intraperitoneally (via a catheter in the patient's abdomen).
Risks For Omentectomy Surgery
Surgical complications are as follows:
- Bleeding after surgical procedure
- Possible Infections
- Damage may happen to nearby organs such as the bladder or ureters
Recovery From Omentectomy Surgery
After surgery, patients need to stay in the hospital for 3 to 7 days. There will be some discomfort, but the doctor will prescribe medication to alleviate it. For a few weeks after surgery, patients should avoid heavy lifting, exercise, and sex. The patient should be able to resume their routine activities within 4 to 6 weeks. The surgeon will determine when it is safe to resume various activities. Following surgery, the patient should see the doctor regularly. The doctor will examine you and perform tests to ensure that cancer has not returned.
