OBJECTIVES: I. Determine whether secondary cytoreductive surgery improves the progression-free interval and survival in patients with suboptimally resected stage III ovarian epithelial carcinoma treated with paclitaxel/cisplatin. II. Determine the morbidity of secondary cytoreductive surgery in these patients. III. Assess prospectively the quality of life (QOL) of these patients and determine whether secondary cytoreductive surgery affects QOL.