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Surgeon Perspectives on the Management of Aborted Cancer Surgery: Results of a Society of Surgical Oncology Member Survey

  • Global Health Services Research
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Abstract

Background

While surgery is generally necessary for most solid-organ cancers, curative-intent resection is occasionally aborted due to unanticipated unresectability or occult metastases. Following aborted cancer surgery (ACS), patients have unique and complex care needs and yet little is known about the optimal approach to their management.

Objective

The aim of this study was to define the practice patterns and perspectives of an international cohort of cancer surgeons on the management of ACS.

Methods

A validated survey assessing surgeon perspectives on patient care needs and management following ACS was developed. The survey was distributed electronically to members of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO).

Results

Among 190 participating surgeons, mean age was 49 ± 11 years, 69% were male, 61% worked at an academic institution, and most had a clinical practice focused on liver/pancreas (30%), breast (23%), or melanoma/sarcoma cancers (20%). Participants estimated that ACS occurred in 7 ± 6% of their cancer operations, most often due to occult metastases (67%) or local unresectability (30%). Most surgeons felt (very) comfortable addressing their patients’ surgical needs (92%) and cancer treatment-related questions (90%), but fewer expressed comfort addressing psychosocial needs (83%) or symptom-control needs (69%). While they perceived discussing next available therapies as the patients’ most important priority after ACS, surgeons reported avoiding postoperative complications as their most important priority (p < 0.001). While 61% and 27% reported utilizing palliative care and psychosocial oncology, respectively, in these situations, 46% noted care coordination as a barrier to addressing patient care needs.

Conclusions

Results from this SSO member survey suggest that ACS is relatively common and associated with unique patient care needs. Surgeons may feel less comfortable assessing psychosocial and symptom-control needs, highlighting the need for novel patient-centered approaches.

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Funding

This research was supported in part by funding from the American Cancer Society (PEP-22-028-01-CTSP) and the Pelotonia Intramural Research Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Alexandra G. Lopez-Aguiar MD, MS, Angela Sarna BS, Joal Beane MD, Alex Kim MD, Aslam Ejaz MD, MPH, Timothy M. Pawlik MD, PhD, MPH & Jordan M. Cloyd MD

  2. Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Sharla Wells-DiGregorio PhD

  3. Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Emily Huang MD

  4. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Peter J. Kneuertz MD

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  1. Alexandra G. Lopez-Aguiar MD, MS
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Correspondence to Jordan M. Cloyd MD.

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Disclosure

Alexandra G. Lopez-Aguiar, Angela Sarna, Sharla Wells-DiGregorio, Emily Huang, Peter J. Kneuertz, Joal Beane, Alex Kim, Aslam Ejaz, Timothy M. Pawlik, and Jordan M. Cloyd have no conflicts of interest to report.

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Lopez-Aguiar, A.G., Sarna, A., Wells-DiGregorio, S. et al. Surgeon Perspectives on the Management of Aborted Cancer Surgery: Results of a Society of Surgical Oncology Member Survey. Ann Surg Oncol 31, 2295–2302 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-023-14804-6

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