Rectal injury during permanent seed implantation for prostate brachytherapy

Serious complications have not been previously reported during seed implantation for prostate brachytherapy. We present an unreported case of rectal injury caused by an ultrasound probe. A 67-year-old male presented with a serum prostate-specific antigen level of 5.50 ng/ml, a Gleason score of 7 (3+4) and clinical T2a adenocarcinoma of the prostate. A transperineal permanent prostate brachytherapy implantation was performed. The patient subsequently complained of abdominal pain postoperatively. A gastrointestinal perforation was suspected based on an abdominal X-ray obtained on the day after the brachytherapy. Rectal injury was recognized during an exploratory laparotomy, and a primary closure and temporary diversion ileostomy were performed. The healing of the injury was confirmed by colonoscopy and an ileostomy closure was performed 2 months after the temporary diversion. The investigating committee for this accident concluded that the ultrasound probe had perforated the rectum. This is the first case of a rectal injury during seed implantation for prostate brachytherapy. (author)