If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will be undergoing radiation treatment, the SpaceOAR Hydrogel is a polyethylene glycol (PEG) based hydrogel pre-treatment option that may help minimize the potential side effects of radiation therapy.1
The rectum and prostate are in close proximity, which means during radiation therapy for prostate cancer the rectum will also be affected by radiation, potentially leading to issues with bowel function or other side effects. SpaceOAR Hydrogel is a polyethylene glycol (PEG) based absorbable hydrogel that temporarily creates space between the prostate and rectum, designed to reduce radiation dose to the rectum to help minimize the side effects of radiation therapy.1
SpaceOAR Hydrogel is an FDA-cleared medical device made mostly of water and polyethylene glycol (PEG) that, when combined, form a soft gel-like synthetic material. PEG is a material commonly used in other medical products. You should discuss any known allergies you may have to the SpaceOAR Hydrogel ingredients with your doctor.1
More than 500 cancer centers around the world purchase SpaceOAR Hydrogel, with 220,000 patients to date and growing.*1
Ask your doctor about SpaceOAR Hydrogel or find a SpaceOAR Hydrogel doctor near you with our Find a Doctor Tool.
By acting as a spacer, the hydrogel temporarily moves the rectum a half inch (1.3 cm) away from the prostate.1 By separating the prostate from the rectum, SpaceOAR Hydrogel is designed to reduce the radiation dose delivered to the rectum and may help minimize the side effects of radiation therapy.2
SpaceOAR Hydrogel can be implanted as an outpatient procedure in a hospital, surgery center, outpatient clinic, or doctor’s office prior to the start of radiation treatment. On average, the procedure is about 30 minutes.3
SpaceOAR Hydrogel is injected as a liquid through a needle inserted between the rectum and the prostate.1 It can be implanted via a local anesthetic that will numb the injection area or under general anesthesia that will put a patient to sleep during the procedure.2 SpaceOAR Hydrogel stays in place for about 3 months and is naturally absorbed into the body and removed through urine in about 6 months.1
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.2
SpaceOAR Hydrogel contains polyethylene glycol (PEG). As with any medical treatment, there are some risks involved with the use of SpaceOAR Hydrogel. Potential complications associated with SpaceOAR Hydrogel include, but are not limited to: pain associated with injection, pain or discomfort from the hydrogel, site inflammation, infection (including abscess), inability to urinate, urgent need to urinate, constipation, rectal muscle spasm, damage to lining of rectum, ulcers, fistula (a hole between rectum and bladder, urethra, or skin below the scrotum), perforation (hole in prostate, bladder, urethra, rectum), necrosis (dead tissue), allergic reaction (local reaction or more severe reaction, such as anaphylaxis), embolism (blood vessel blockage is possible and may happen outside of the pelvis, potentially impacting vital organs or legs), fainting, and bleeding. Please talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits related to using SpaceOAR Hydrogel. If one or more of these complications occur, you may need medical treatment or surgery. Please talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits associated with the SpaceOAR Hydrogel.1
Henry
*Number of patients is based on units shipped and a BSC proprietary algorithm.
**Patient responses can and do vary. Patients may experience pain associated with the injection, pain or discomfort from the hydrogel, and site inflammation, among other potential side effects, which are provided here.
To determine if SpaceOAR Hydrogel is right for you, consult your healthcare team. This guide can help facilitate a conversation with your doctor.
This material is for informational purposes only and not meant for medical diagnosis. This information does not constitute medical or legal advice, and Boston Scientific makes no representation regarding the medical benefits included in this information. Boston Scientific strongly recommends that you consult with your physician on all matters pertaining to your health.
Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.
SpaceOAR Hydrogel is intended to temporarily move the rectal wall away from the prostate during the course of radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, and in creating this space it is the intent of SpaceOAR Hydrogel to reduce the radiation dose affecting the rectum.
SpaceOAR Hydrogel contains polyethylene glycol (PEG). As with any medical treatment, there are some risks involved with the use of SpaceOAR Hydrogel. Potential complications associated with SpaceOAR Hydrogel include, but are not limited to: pain associated with injection, pain or discomfort from the hydrogel, site inflammation, infection (including abscess), inability to urinate, urgent need to urinate, constipation, rectal muscle spasm, damage to lining of rectum, ulcers, fistula (a hole between rectum and bladder, urethra, or skin below the scrotum), perforation (hole in prostate, bladder, urethra, rectum), necrosis (dead tissue), allergic reaction (local reaction or more severe reaction, such as anaphylaxis), embolism (blood vessel blockage is possible and may happen outside of the pelvis, potentially impacting vital organs or legs), fainting, and bleeding. Please talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits related to using SpaceOAR Hydrogel. If one or more of these complications occur, you may need medical treatment or surgery. URO-1288805-AA
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