Introduction/Background Standard management of ovarian cancer often requires a midline abdominal incision that allows exposure of the entire abdomen. However, this type of incisions is associated to a major abdominal wall defects and complications. On the other hand, it is known that obesity is associated with complications including impairments of cutaneous wound healing, total wound failure and fascial dehiscence.

Methodology The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of BMI on wound complications in a large cohort of ovarian cancer patients undergoing midline laparotomy and to establish a BMI cut-off point to detect these wound complications.

Retrospective data from patients undergoing midline laparotomy for ovarian cancer in Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) from 2008–2021 were collected.

Results In total, 132 patients with available data were included. Mean BMI was 27.19 (5.00). 46 patients (33.1%) presented wound complications after laparotomy, which included fascial dehiscence, seroma, wound infection and evisceration. A univariate analysis of possible risk factors for wound complications was performed and found BMI>29 as a risk factor for wound complications (OR 3.025; 95%CI 1.4–6.5, P=0.005) after midline laparotomy for ovarian cancer. 52.4% of patients who had BMI>29 presented wound complications after surgery compared to 26.7% of patients with BMI<29 (P=0.004). After a ROC curve analysis, the cutoff value of BMI was 26.17 associated to wound complications with a sensitivity of 71.7% and specificity of 57% (P=0.005).

Conclusion Wound healing seems to be impaired in ovarian cancer patients undergoing laparotomy with high BMI. Nutritional and exercise support needs to be considered in our clinical practice as a fundamental part of ovarian cancer patient management, not only in BMI>29 or obese patients but also in overweight one’s.

Disclosures Nothing to declare.