Pelvic exenteration--our initial experience in 15 cases

To analyse the initial experience of pelvic exenteration for gynaecological malignancies in a tertiary referral center. Between 2011 and 2013, 15 patients underwent a pelvic exenteration for gynaecological malignancies. Out of the 15 exenterations, six were total, four anterior, and five posterior. The indication was cervical (nine patients), advanced vaginal (one patient), and ovarian cancer (in five patients). A Bricker non-continent ileal urinary conduit was performed in all ten anterior and total exenterations. In-hospital complications occurred in six patients (40%) of whom two perioperative deaths (13%). Among the 15 patients, at this moment, eight are alive and six died because of the disease, and one was lost to follow-up. Pelvic exenterantion for recurrent or advanced pelvic malignancies can be associated with long-term survival and even cure without high perioperative mortality in properly selected patients. However, postoperative complications are common and can be lethal.