Interesting article from the land down under...yes there, but the study is from Australia.
Take a look, not sure about the implications, but interesting information.
AUA 2023: Real World Assessment of MRI Predictors of Rectal Complications Following Transperineal SpaceOAR® Hydrogel Insertion (urotoday.com)
any chance you can provide a link???
link: urotoday.com/conference-hig...
My husband would have had to pay for SpaceOAR if he wanted it as part of his LD brachytherapy as he had no medical grounds for it on the NHS (Crohn's etc). Given the info we had on its benefits at the time we decided not to pay out the £6,600 (yes, that much!) as it would be better used for his general quality of life. He's now at 6 months with virtually no side effects (occasional slow flow after sitting for a while). We're glad we didn't pay out!
Different ballgame between US and UK when it comes to getting the yes or no. From my understanding it would make sense that someone with Crohn's would benefit from not having radiation to the bowel.
When I heard NHS, I remembered that I had read the article below. Can't seem to get the hyperlink to come in to the text, but you can copy and paste into browser. Your husband already had it done, so might not be worth the time to read.
Not sure if your NICE, I think that is what is called, gave the thumbs up for everyone SpaceOAR or not.
Sometimes it is good thing when procedures are scrutinized. Like arthroscopic knee surgeries for meniscus in the U.S. . Finding out that there might not have been as much benefit as they thought, but they kept on doing them because they would get approved, and the reimbursement was worth it.
NICE guidelines for 2023. Well maybe not so nice if you read the snippet at the end.
Did not read enough to see what they meant by "Special Arrangements".
I always find it interesting to see what other countries are doing. Just like the situation with Transperineal biopsies vs Transrectal biopsies. The transrectal biopsies are still in the majority here, but other countries don't want to take the chance of any type of infection. Just faster and cheaper to do the transrectal biopsy. Hmmm, same Prostate but different treatments, nuff said.
Information for the public
There is not enough good evidence about how well this procedure works or how safe it is. So, it can only be done with special arrangements. This means you will have regular appointments afterwards to check how well it is working or if it has caused problems.
NHS Funding approval in the UK is agreed by regional clinical commissioning groups, hence reference at times in the media to the "postcode lottery". Our CCG does not approve SpaceOAR as routine, but on this occasion we consider their decision has been beneficial as it wouldn't have been of any benefit & could have caused extra problems.
Nice study, thanks for posting. I think if I read that before getting SpaceOar with HDR-BT I may have passed, but I did have it placed by my RO, and 4 years later, still no SE's from the SO or radiation. I did have a perfectly symmetrical placement though, as confirmed by a post-procedure MRI, so I think the results depend largely on the skill of the RO.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for Rectal Proctitis 
ADT and Testosterone Recovery
Is putting in the fiducials & gel in spaceoar painful with SBRT Treatment?
Triglycerides and BCR
