Barrigel® Rectal Spacer

Understanding Barrigel Rectal Spacers

Radiation therapy is a highly effective treatment for prostate cancer. One of its primary challenges, however, is limiting radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues—particularly the rectum. Unintended radiation to this area can result in uncomfortable short- and long-term side effects. Barrigel® rectal spacers offer an innovative solution designed to help protect healthy tissue during prostate cancer radiation therapy.

What Is Barrigel?

Barrigel is an injectable hydrogel spacer placed between the prostate and the rectum. Its purpose is to create additional physical separation between the prostate, which requires radiation treatment, and the rectum, which does not. By increasing this distance, Barrigel helps reduce the amount of radiation absorbed by rectal tissue.

How Does Barrigel Work?

Placement of the Barrigel spacer is a minimally invasive procedure typically performed under local anesthesia. Using a small needle, the hydrogel is carefully injected into the space between the prostate and the rectum. Once in place, the gel conforms to the patient’s anatomy and maintains its position throughout the course of radiation therapy.

The spacer effectively shifts the rectum away from the high-dose radiation field, allowing physicians to deliver targeted treatment to the prostate while better protecting surrounding tissues.

Benefits of Barrigel

• Reduced radiation exposure to the rectum: The spacer acts as a protective buffer, lowering radiation dose to healthy tissue.

• Fewer side effects: Decreased rectal exposure reduces the risk of bowel-related complications during and after treatment.

• Improved quality of life: Patients often experience fewer treatment-related symptoms, supporting comfort and well-being throughout recovery.

Potential Bowel Complications From Radiation Exposure

Without protective measures, radiation exposure to the rectum may cause a range of side effects. These effects can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic).

Short-term complications may include:

• Diarrhea or increased bowel urgency

• Rectal bleeding

• Rectal pain or discomfort during bowel movements

• Excess mucus discharge

• Tenesmus, or the persistent sensation of needing to have a bowel movement

Long-term complications may include:

• Chronic diarrhea

• Fistula formation, or abnormal connections between the rectum and nearby organs

• Rectal ulceration

• Rectal strictures caused by scar tissue, which can lead to bowel obstruction

• Fecal incontinence, or difficulty controlling bowel movements

Conclusion

Radiation therapy remains a powerful and effective option for treating prostate cancer, but protecting nearby healthy tissue is essential for minimizing side effects. The Barrigel rectal spacer provides a proven method to help safeguard the rectum during treatment.

By reducing radiation exposure, Barrigel can lower the risk of bowel complications and improve overall comfort and quality of life—both during treatment and in the years that follow. If you are considering radiation therapy for prostate cancer, contact us at Urology Associates of Charleston about whether Barrigel is an appropriate option for you.