Cheltenham General Hospital Leads the Way with Groundbreaking Cancer Surgery
An expert multidisciplinary team at Cheltenham General Hospital has performed the first keyhole total pelvic exenteration in the South West region.
This landmark procedure took place on Tuesday 14 January at Cheltenham General Hospital. A team of highly skilled experts from Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were involved in the operation, including the gynaecological oncology team led by Mr Philip Rolland and Miss Kathryn Hillaby and supported by Mr Ed Tudor (urological cancer surgery), Mr Jon Cutting (colorectal cancer surgery), Dr Sheila West (anaesthetics), Miss Alison Montgomery (Subspecialist Trainee), and the Theatre 4 and Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP) team of Ann Stephens, Bilgy Pellisery and Jahra Catungal.
Pelvic exenteration is one of the most complex surgical procedures in the field of surgical oncology, typically reserved for patients with advanced or recurrent cancer in the pelvic region that cannot be managed with other treatments. The surgery involves the removal of multiple organs from the pelvic cavity, such as the bladder, bowel and reproductive organs, depending on the extent of the disease.
Traditionally performed through open surgery involving a large abdominal incision, such major surgery often results in lengthy recovery periods and extended stays in critical care. The operation is designed to cure recurrent gynaecological cancer in the pelvis following radiotherapy.
Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist Mr Philip Rolland commented: "Cheltenham General Hospital was an early adopter of the Da Vinci robotic system and our urology and gynaecological oncology teams have extensive experience of performing radical cancer surgery using it.
"With the support of the colorectal surgeons, who have similar experience of conventional laparoscopic surgery for bowel cancer, it became clear over the last year that we are uniquely placed in the region to be able to offer this type of procedure, which could not be performed with standard keyhole surgery alone."
Mr Philip Rolland
Cheltenham General Hospital’s commitment to innovation and collaboration has been pivotal in achieving this milestone. This successful procedure would not have been possible without the invaluable support of the critical care team, who, despite current pressures, ensured that facilities were available for the patient’s recovery, allowing the operation to proceed. Remarkably, the patient required only a few hours in the Department of Critical Care, underscoring the advantages of this minimally invasive technique.
Medical Director Professor Mark Pietroni added: “Performing the first keyhole total pelvic exenteration in the South West is a testament to the skill and dedication of our multidisciplinary team. The collaboration between gynaecological oncology, urology, colorectal surgery, anaesthetics and critical care exemplifies the exceptional cancer care we strive to deliver at Cheltenham General Hospital.”
This breakthrough not only highlights the hospital's expertise in robotic and laparoscopic surgery but also marks a significant step forward in the treatment of complex cancer cases, offering patients new hope and a faster return to health.