Intraluminal migration of a spacer with small bowel obstruction: a case report of rare complication

World J Surg Oncol. 2012 Feb 6:10:30. doi: 10.1186/1477-7819-10-30.

Abstract

The spacer placement is a prevalent procedure to separate the surrounding normal tissues from locally recurrent rectal tumor before the application of radiotherapy. However, complications could occur due to the foreign nature of the spacer. This report describes a case of 60-year-old man who had undergone radiotherapy two years earlier for a recurrent rectal tumor and presented with small bowel obstruction. A spacer was used before radiotherapy. Radiological assessment and laparotomy revealed the presence of the spacer inside the small bowel lumen. It is possible that the spacer established contact with the intestine, elicited local inflammatory reaction that facilitated the complete penetration of the intestinal wall without causing any clinical symptoms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Foreign-Body Reaction / complications*
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Obstruction / etiology*
  • Intestinal Obstruction / surgery
  • Intestine, Small / diagnostic imaging
  • Laparotomy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Rectal Neoplasms / complications
  • Rectal Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed