Background: Complete pathological resection of locally advanced or recurrent rectal and anal cancer is regarded as one of the most important determinants of oncological outcome. Disease in the lateral pelvic sidewall has been considered a contraindication for pelvic exenteration surgery owing to the significant likelihood of incomplete resection.
Methods: We describe a novel technique (ELSiE) to resect disease involving the lateral pelvic sidewall. Patient demographics, post-operative histology, length of hospital stay and complications were collected from prospectively maintained electronic patient database.
Results: During 2011-2013, six patients underwent pelvic exenteration surgery with the ELSiE approach. All patients had R0 resection. Three patients required sciatic nerve excision. Four patients developed post-operative complications although no major complications occurred.
Conclusions: Patients with locally advanced and recurrent cancer involving the lateral pelvic sidewall may be rendered suitable for potentially curative radical resection with a modification in the approach to the lateral pelvic sidewall. Our pilot series seems to indicate that our novel technique (ELSiE) is feasible, safe and yields high rates of complete pathological resection.