Absorbable synthetic mesh (910-polyglactin) intestinal sling to reduce radiation-induced small bowel injury in patients with pelvic malignancies.

Absorbable synthetic mesh (910-polyglactin) was used to create an intestinal sling in six patients undergoing surgical staging of pelvic malignancies prior to radiation therapy. All patients had effective compartmentalization of small intestine out of the pelvis which persisted throughout the duration of radiation therapy. None of the patients developed complications related to the intestinal sling. This technique is well tolerated and has the potential to minimize chronic small intestinal complications caused by radiation therapy for pelvic malignancies.