LAPAROSCOPIC ENTEROLYSIS AND PLACEMENT OF AN INTESTINAL SLING BEFORE RADIATION-THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF PROSTATE-CANCER

We present an interesting application of laparoscopy in a man who was otherwise not a candidate for radiotherapy because of an adherent loop of small bowel in the proposed treatment field. Laparoscopic enteroly sis was performed and the involved segment was displaced out of the pe lvis; a synthetic mesh was placed to serve as a sling to prevent cauda l migration back into the pelvis. The patient had a rapid recovery and subsequently completed a full course of radiotherapy. The experienced laparoscopist may find this a good alternative to open surgery in pat ients with a fixed loop of small bowel who require radiation therapy f or pelvic malignancies.