SpaceOAR Hydrogel

The SpaceOAR hydrogel is injected as liquid through a small needle between the rectum and the prostate. Your doctor will use ultrasound imaging to ensure correct placement.

Your doctor will give you instructions on how to prepare for the procedure and information about any anesthesia you will receive.

SpaceOAR hydrogel can be implanted under local, regional or general anesthesia. You should discuss with your doctor which type of anesthesia will work best for you.

Your doctor will use a local, regional or general anesthesia and the injection site will be numbed, so you may feel a pinprick or pressure but should not feel any discomfort. Following the implantation, you may experience some temporary discomfort at the injection site. SpaceOAR hydrogel patients typically report no prolonged discomfort from the implanted gel.

You should be able to go back to your normal activities right away. Check with your doctor about anything you should avoid after the procedure and during your
radiation treatments.

SpaceOAR hydrogel stays in place, separating your prostate and rectum, for about 3 months. After 6 months, the hydrogel is naturally absorbed into the body and removed in your urine.

SpaceOAR hydrogel has been evaluated in many clinical studies and shown to be safe and effective in reducing side effects. In the U.S., 222 prostate cancer patients participated in a multi-center, randomized, patient-blinded clinical study. Study results showed that the hydrogel was safe and effective. The average SpaceOAR hydrogel study patient gained ½ inch of space between the prostate and rectum, and had significant reduction in radiation dose to the rectum resulting in significantly fewer rectal side effects.

 

Follow-up Study

Three years after treatment, patients from the study were asked to report on their Quality of Life for bowel, urinary and sexual functions. These patient-reported outcomes showed that SpaceOAR hydrogel patients experienced significantly fewer long-term rectal side effects, were more likely to maintain sexual function, and had significantly higher patient reported scores for urinary and bowel Quality of Life.

Potential complications associated with SpaceOAR hydrogel include but are not limited to pain associated with SpaceOAR hydrogel injection; pain or discomfort associated with SpaceOAR hydrogel, needle penetration of the bladder, prostate, rectal wall, rectum, or urethra; injection of SpaceOAR hydrogel into the bladder, prostate, rectal wall, rectum, or urethra; local inflammatory reactions; infection; injection of air, fluid or SpaceOAR hydrogel intravascularly; urinary retention; rectal mucosal damage, ulcers, necrosis; bleeding; constipation; and rectal urgency.