Changes in rectal volume and prostate localization due to placement of a rectum-emptying tube

Abstract

RET placement reduced both rectal volume and variation in rectal volume. The procedure reduced displacement of the prostate. RET placement thus appears to be an effective technique for immobilizing the prostate.

A systematic review: Effectiveness of rectal emptying preparation in prostate cancer patients

“…Evacuation techniques, self 18 and assisted, 12 demonstrated a significant difference in prostate motion alone 12 and in combination with rectal volume 18 (Table 5). However, self evacuation is not reported elsewhere and while successful in this population may not be easily translated to other centers despite the author reporting that no patient refused the technique.…”

“…18 The assisted evacuation method employed the use of a rectal emptying tube and was also reported as well tolerated. 12 The primary effect of both these methods is most probably gas elimination, which leads us to question the need for rigorous bowel evacuation. However, despite the potential effectiveness of eliminating gas it can require intense resources such as robust patient information, training (the tube was inserted with fluoroscopic guidance), and compliance.…”

“…Ten of the 18 studies employed more than 1 intervention limiting the conclusions that can be drawn from them 8,9,11,14,16,[19][20][21][22][23] (Table 1). Eleven studies reported significant results [8][9][10][11][12][15][16][17][18]20 (Tables 2-5). …”

“…Two of the 3 studies investigating rectal emptying techniques as a single intervention demonstrated significant differences in both rectal volume and corresponding prostate motion 12,18 (Table 5). The techniques were slightly different.…”

The effect of bowel preparation regime on interfraction rectal filling variation during image guided radiotherapy for prostate cancer

“…Other non-invasive strategies use a rectum-emptying approach, by means of laxatives, anti-flatulence diet [6], bowel relaxant [4], probiotics [7], enemas [8], rectum-emptying tube [9], self evacuation [10], or combination of these. However the degree of effectiveness of each of these methods and identification of the most successful approach is still debatable.…”