Background: Multiple techniques have been utilized in an attempt to prevent small bowel obstructions following total pelvic exenteration. Pelvic transposition of the cecum may be an effective way to reduce the incidence of this serious complication.
Cases: We present three women who underwent total pelvic exenteration and cecal pelvic transposition to exclude the small bowel from the "empty pelvis". All three patients did well without any postoperative small bowel complications.
Conclusion: Cecal pelvic transposition precludes the small bowel from entering the pelvis. This procedure can be performed relatively easily by a gynecologic oncologist experienced with bowel surgery. A larger patient series is needed to assess the efficacy of this previously unpublished procedure.