Aim: Management of the pelvic space following laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection remains controversial. We describe a simple technique for obliteration of the pelvic space after laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection. Method: Pneumoperitoneum was re-established after completion of operative procedure and a Foley catheter Ch. 24 was inserted through the right lower port under direct vision. The balloon of the catheter, placed in the presacral space, was filled with 50 ml sterile saline and connected to passive drainage. The catheter was removed 10 days postoperatively. Results: This technique was used in 15 patients with the median age of 74 years (range 63-86). Eleven patients were treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy. The median length of hospital stay was 9 days (range 5-11). Two patients (13.3%) treated with chemoradiotherapy developed a superficial perineal wound infection and 4 patients (26.6%) had a deep pelvic abscess, which required surgical drainage. The median time of perineal wound healing was 3 months (range 2-8). The median follow-up time was 36 months (range18-60). None of the patients developed perineal hernia and intestinal obstruction in the follow-up period. One patient underwent small bowel resection due to stenosis caused by radiation enteritis. There was no local recurrence, but two patients developed distant metastases after 12 months. Conclusion: Our results suggest that filling the pelvic cavity with a balloon catheter for ten days results in the creation of a thin, fibrotic peritoneal layer, which keeps the small intestine out of the pelvis and prevents loops of intestine adhering in the pelvic cavity. © 2012 The Authors Colorectal Disease © 2012 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.