SpaceOAR - Augmenix, Boston Scientific, and Conflicts of Interest

[medgator]

Rectum-spacer related acute toxicity – endoscopy results of 403 prostate cancer patients after implantation of gel or balloon spacers

Rectal spacers are used to limit dose to the anterior rectal wall in high dose external beam radiation therapy of the prostate and have been shown to reduce radiation induced toxicity. Here we report the complication rate and toxicity of the implantation ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Not particular to BioProtect, but interesting that acute Grade 3 toxicity (~2-3%) more common in this series for balloon vs gel spacing.

Had to look up what it actually is... I thought balloons weren't new to the specialty but that's what this looks like it is?

First physicians to implant BioProtect Balloon in US describe benefits of the spacer

Dr. Shawn Zimberg and Dr. Dean Laganosky discuss the BioProtect Balloon Transplant System, a rectal spacer for use in prostate cancer radiation.

www.urologytimes.com

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[evilbooyaa]

Had to look up what it actually is... I thought balloons weren't new to the specialty but that's what this looks like it is?

First physicians to implant BioProtect Balloon in US describe benefits of the spacer

Dr. Shawn Zimberg and Dr. Dean Laganosky discuss the BioProtect Balloon Transplant System, a rectal spacer for use in prostate cancer radiation.

www.urologytimes.com

It seems like it's a balloon shoved into the area where a spaceOAR normally sits. So not an intrarectal balloon (which is old school and laughably unnecessary), but a balloon shoved through the perineum into the space where a gel normally would go. I presume once the balloon is placed, it is inflated? I'm shocked that the people interviewed about how wonderful this is do not feel any need to explain exactly what the hell is going on during a procedure like this.

Well, not really shocked. Because 'We're going to shove a balloon into your taint' doesn't have the greatest ring to it...

 

[communitydoc13]

Had to look up what it actually is... I thought balloons weren't new to the specialty but that's what this looks like it is?

First physicians to implant BioProtect Balloon in US describe benefits of the spacer

Dr. Shawn Zimberg and Dr. Dean Laganosky discuss the BioProtect Balloon Transplant System, a rectal spacer for use in prostate cancer radiation.

www.urologytimes.com

The acute spacer toxicity study actually was in reference to a BioProtect product. So this product has been available other places for a long time.