title: Potency after unilateral nerve sparing surgery: a report on functional and oncological results of unilateral nerve sparing surgery.
abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate unilateral nerve sparing prostate surgery. Patient files of men who underwent unilateral nerve sparing radical prostatectomy were analyzed retrospectively after a minimum follow-up period of 18 months. Of 46 patients who received unilateral nerve sparing surgery, 14 (30.4%) regained full potency after surgery. In 92.9% of these patients, recovery occurred within a period of 18 months. Age is the single most important factor in the recuperation of potency after unilateral nerve sparing surgery. Most of the patients (84.8%) reported the ability to achieve orgasm. Of eight patients with positive section margins, two had positive section margins at the spared side only. Unilateral nerve sparing surgery remains a feasible treatment option for prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van der Aa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joniau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Ridder
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Poppel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010410:Penile Erection; D010413:Penis / Q000294:innervation*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000009:adverse effects