Abdominopelvic mesh compartmentalization reduces the complications of radiotherapy in children: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this report was to assess the effects of radiotherapy (RT) in children with abdominopelvic tumours in whom a biodegradable (Polyglactin 910) mesh had been inserted prior to commencement of radiotherapy.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis was carried out of four patients with abdominopelvic tumours who underwent radiotherapy between 2000 and 2002 as part of their management.


RESULTS
All children tolerated radiotherapy well with no evidence of acute or chronic radiation enteritis. One child developed prolonged postoperative ileus and a second child developed infective diarrhoea and fever, not related to radiation.


CONCLUSIONS
We have highlighted a good tolerance of radiotherapy in children following the insertion of a Polyglactin 910 mesh prior to starting radiation and would recommend further larger studies with longer follow-up to support this.
Haider
N
N
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland. nadeemhaider@esatclear.ie
O'Sullivan
C
C
Corbally
M T
MT
Fitzgerald
R J
RJ
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D004751:Enteritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D010384:Pelvic Bones; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016658:Psoas Muscles; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018233:Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D011098:Polyglactin 910