2026-05-18T05:17:29Z https://www.peertechzpublications.org/oai-pmh

oai:www.peertechzpublications.org:10.17352/ijrro.000017 2016-12-30 PTZ.IJRRO:VOL2

New Technique to Avoid General Anesthesia during Brachytherapy for Cancer Cervix Ashraf H Hassouna<p><strong>Aim:</strong>To keep the cervical canal dilated after the first high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy fraction to avoid general anesthesia during subsequent applications.</p><p><strong>Patients and Methods:</strong> In the first HDR brachytherapy application: examination and cervical dilatation was done under general anesthesia. The proximal 4 cm of urinary Foley catheter was cut (making the new cervical tube), inserted in the cervical canal and fixed to the cervix by 3 simple silk sutures. Uterine tandem was inserted into the uterus through the new cervical tube and procedure was completed as usual. The new&nbsp; cervical&nbsp; tube&nbsp; was&nbsp; left&nbsp; in&nbsp; place&nbsp; after&nbsp; the&nbsp; end&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; session.&nbsp; In&nbsp; the&nbsp; subsequent&nbsp; HDR&nbsp; brachytherapy applications: uterine tandem was inserted into the uterus through this new cervical tube without general anesthesia.&nbsp; All&nbsp; applications&nbsp; were&nbsp; evaluated&nbsp; by&nbsp; CT&nbsp; images&nbsp; and&nbsp; patients&nbsp; were&nbsp; treated&nbsp; according&nbsp; to&nbsp; CT-image-based 3D calculation.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> In total: 9 HDR brachytherapy applications were done for 3 cancer cervix patients. For each patient:first&nbsp; application&nbsp; was&nbsp; done&nbsp; under&nbsp; general&nbsp; anesthesia&nbsp; while&nbsp; 2nd and&nbsp; 3rd applications&nbsp; were&nbsp; done without general anesthesia (analgesia or sedation was given if needed). The uterine tandem was inserted easily&nbsp; and&nbsp; correctly&nbsp; with&nbsp; the&nbsp; new&nbsp; cervical&nbsp; tube&nbsp; in&nbsp; place.&nbsp; No&nbsp; complications&nbsp; occurred&nbsp; during&nbsp; or&nbsp; after&nbsp; the procedures.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:&nbsp; </strong>This&nbsp; is&nbsp; a&nbsp; simple&nbsp; new&nbsp; technique&nbsp; facilitating&nbsp; uterine&nbsp; tandem&nbsp; insertion&nbsp; without&nbsp; general anesthesia. Using this technique, patients can be protected from general anesthesia hazards (especially in risky patients) and time saved during brachytherapy applications. This new cervical tube is as safe and applicable as the cervical Smit sleeve; however, it is more available and cheaper..</p> International Journal of Radiology and Radiation Oncology - Peertechz Publications 2016-12-30 Research Article https://doi.org/10.17352/ijrro.000017 en Copyright © Ashraf H Hassouna et al.