Management of radiation-induced proctitis using submucosal endoscopic injections of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction: a case report

BACKGROUND: Standard approaches to the treatment of chronic post-radiation proctitis are associated with a high risk of complications and a high percentage of unsatisfactory results due to the reduced regenerative potential of irradiated tissues. Regenerative surgery techniques using the stromal-vascular cell fraction (SVF) based on the patient's autologous adipose tissue are a promising direction for study. CLINICAL CASE DESCRIPTION: A 76-year-old patient suffering from chronic post-radiation erosive-ulcerative proctitis, grade 4 according to RTOG-EORTC, complicated by recurrent profuse rectal bleeding, underwent local autotransplantation of SVF into the submucosal layer of the rectum and pararectal connective tissue. The follow-up colonoscopies 1 and 6 months after the surgery and histological examination showed the complete epithelialization of ulcerative defects and a decrease in proctitis activity. There were no bleeding episodes during the 12-month postoperative observation period. CONCLUSION: The proangiogenic, wound-healing, and anti-apoptotic effects of the SVF cell suspension provided reduction of inflammation activity, epithelialization of ulcers, and elimination of defecation-associated hemorrhage, following the SVF injection into the submucosal layer of the rectal wall and pararectal connective tissue in a patient with post-radiation proctitis with ulcers and recurrent bleeding.