What is pelvic exenteration?

Pelvic Exenteration is a surgical procedure used for patients with recurrent gynecological or rectal cancers. Your surgeon will remove a large number of organs at once. For women, this may involve removing the uterus, cervix, vagina, bladder, and rectum. For men, this may involve removing the bladder, rectum, and prostate. The organs removed will depend on the location of the cancer. There are three major types of pelvic exenteration.

• Anterior exenteration. The bladder is removed, but the rectum is not.
• Posterior exenteration. The rectum is removed, but the bladder is not.
• Total exenteration. Both the bladder and rectum are removed.

Why it’s done

Pelvic exenteration may be used if rectal, anal, prostate, or gynecological cancer has recurred in the pelvis after other treatments. The goal is to eradicate cancer in the pelvis by removing all affected organs.

What to expect

A pelvic exenteration is a major, open surgery. Our colorectal surgical specialists are skilled and experienced in performing this surgery on cancer patients. The procedure takes eight to 10 hours to complete. You’ll need to remain in the hospital for 10 to 14 days after your surgery.

After surgery, you may have a urostomy. This is an opening in your abdominal wall that allows urine to move from your body into a bag outside your body. After surgery, you may have a colostomy. This is an opening in your abdominal wall that allows solid waste to move from your body into a bag outside your body. It’s possible to have both a urostomy and a colostomy after pelvic exenteration surgery. Depending on your individual situation, your surgeon may be able to perform your surgery in a way that allows you to urinate and pass bowel movements normally, without a urostomy or colostomy.

Colorectal Disease Specialties We Treat