Abhinav Sidana, MD, MPH, presented “Rectal Spacer” during the 2024 Frontiers in Oncologic Prostate Care and Ablative Local Therapy symposium on October 17, 2024, in San Diego, California.

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How to cite: Sidana, Abhinav. Rectal Spacer.” October, 2024. Accessed Jan 2025. https://grandroundsinurology.com/rectal-spacer/

Rectal Spacer Summary

Abhinav Sidana, MD, MPH, addresses the role of rectal spacers in reducing gastrointestinal toxicity during prostate radiation therapy. The 11-minute presentation discusses three types of FDA-approved rectal spacers: Polyethylene Glycol-Based Spacers (SpaceOAR), Hyaluronic Acid-Based Spacers, and Balloon Spacers (BioProtect).

Dr. Sidana shares images to illustrate the procedural steps for patient preparation, numbing, hydro-dissection, and accurate spacer placement, guided by imaging. Post-procedure imaging, such as MRI or CT scans, can be used to confirm correct placement.

Dr. Sidana also discusses potential complications, including minor pain and rectal fullness and rare instances of severe outcomes like rectourethral fistulas or sepsis. He notes, however, that these devices generally have a favorable safety profile.

Frontiers in Oncologic Prostate Care and Ablative Local Therapy (FOCAL) is an outstanding program on prostate imaging, transperineal interventions, and ablative treatments for prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Bringing together community-based, academic, and industry partners, FOCAL offers lectures by world-renowned faculty and hands-on training workshops on in-office transperineal interventions, fusion-guided prostate ablation and state-of-the-art BPH management with novel technologies. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Abhinav Sidana, MD, MPH, is the Director of Prostate Cancer Focal Therapy, Director of GU Clinical Trials Urology Section, and Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences in Chicago, IL. Dr. Sidana earned his MD in 2007 from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. Following this, he pursued a post-doctoral Fellowship in Urology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, during which he focused on translational projects relating to cancer immunotherapy and was instrumental in translating the preclinical work for a clinical trial studying cryo-immunotherapy. Subsequently, he completed his urology residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and a urologic oncology fellowship at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Sidana’s current clinical practice includes both surgical and non-operative management of prostate, kidney, ureteral, testicular, and bladder cancers. His research interests include functional prostate imaging, image-guided and focal treatments for prostate cancer, and clinical trials on novel treatments for urologic cancers.