Southampton doctor recognised for pelvic cancer surgery research
Growing research to improve treatment of advanced pelvic cancers has won an international award.
Advanced pelvic cancers are becoming more common. About 4,000 UK patients need treatment for them every year, but this is challenging.
Removing multiple organs is often the only possibility of a cure.
Southampton’s Charles West is investigating complications in patients who need the surgery, known as a total pelvic exenteration.
His findings have been published in the British Journal of Surgery (BJS). They were named a winning paper at the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI)’s annual meeting.
What is ‘empty pelvis syndrome’?
A total pelvic exenteration involves removing all the organs in the pelvis. The surgery might also remove skin, bones and muscle, leaving a large empty space behind.
This space can then fill with fluid and other organs that are not usually found in the pelvis in a phenomenon known as ‘empty pelvis syndrome’. It can lead to serious long-term complications or even death.
Surgeons will often try to reconstruct and ‘fill’ the empty pelvis with tissues taken from elsewhere in the body or using biological implants.
The winning paper provides an agreed definition and core data set for empty pelvis syndrome.
This will facilitate further research to identify the most effective methods of reconstruction. Researchers hope to improve patient and doctor decision-making for people who need this surgery in the future.
Award-winning work
The ACPGI comprises over a thousand surgeons, nurses and allied health professionals. They are advancing the care of patients with bowel diseases.
Their 2024 Annual Meeting took place in Wales at the start of July. It showcased groundbreaking work in this field.
The ACPGI received over 400 abstracts from researchers across the globe. They were shortlisted to just six finalists who were invited to present at the event.
Charles West was selected for this year’s BJS Short Paper Prize by a panel of judges. He is a colorectal surgery research fellow at the University of Southampton. His research is funded by PLANETS Cancer Charity, Bowel Research UK and Penguins Against Cancer.
“Southampton is at the forefront of surgical care and innovation for patients with complex pelvic cancers”, Charles explained.
“This provided the perfect platform for my PhD’s international consensus study on the empty pelvis syndrome. It captured over 1,500 years of global surgical expertise, alongside the perspectives of patients with lived experience.”
He continued: “It is an honour to have this research recognised. The award highlights the world-class University Surgery unit here in Southampton, and the crucial step we are taking towards reducing complications that may arise from life-saving pelvic exenteration surgery."