Another first at Forté Hospital

Christchurch's first Barrigel procedure has been performed at Forté Hospital.

The procedure, performed by urologist Louise Rouse, is a designed for use during prostate cancer radiation therapy.

Barrigel is a polyethylene glycol hydrogel spacer. It minimizes radiation exposure to the rectum by creating a space between the prostate and the rectum. The result is that it moves the healthy organ out of radiation beam exposure, minimising the side effects of radiation.

Barrigel is made from hyaluronic acid, which is biocompatible with the body. It stays in place for the duration of radiation therapy and starts to safely reabsorb into the body after three to six months.

Image: Urologist Louise Rouse with the Forté Hospital team after performing Christchurch's first Barrigel procedure.