Published online Nov 27, 2021. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v13.i11.1497
Peer-review started: February 8, 2021
First decision: March 30, 2021
Revised: April 1, 2021
Accepted: September 2, 2021
Article in press: September 2, 2021
Published online: November 27, 2021
Processing time: 291 Days and 12.2 Hours
The omentum is an organ that is easily sacrificed during various abdominal surgeries. It is one of the first organs to be removed in cases scheduled for cytoreductive surgery.
As it plays an effective role in defense against pathogens and injuries, the omentum is classified as an immunological organ. It can also reach almost anywhere in the abdomen.
The omentum is a unique organ due to its extraordinary functional properties in the abdomen, but the reasons for its frequent removal rather than preservation by surgeons have been questioned in the light of literature data.
A review of the English language literature based on the MEDLINE (PubMed) database was conducted using the keywords “abdomen”, “gastrointestinal”, “tumor”, “inflammation”, “omental flap”, “metastasis”, “omentum”, and “omentectomy”.
Our literature search found 1305 articles with the keyword “omentectomy”. It was found that most of the articles were on gynecological (n = 519), stomach (n = 121), colorectal (n = 104), and appendix (n = 52) pathologies and were mostly related to tumors. A brief review of its use in the treatment or reconstruction of other clinical pathologies was also included in this article.
The omentum tries to limit and control inflammatory and pathological events that occur in the abdomen. As it limits and controls inflammatory and infectious pathologies, it contributes to the survival of the patient.
The omentum is not an organ that can be easily sacrificed at random. Experimental and prospective clinical studies on the control of tumor spread, control of infection, adhesion formation and the protective role of the omentum in patients undergoing omentectomy are needed.