title: Prospective study of sexual dysfunction in men with rectal cancer: feasibility and results of nerve sparing surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rectal cancer surgery is impaired by a high rate of postoperative sexual dysfunction cause of frequent nerve injuries. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate sexual function in a group of male patients after total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer, using an autonomic nerve sparing technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent autonomic nerve preserving TME. Sexual function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function standardized questionnaire. All patients were studied preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum were enrolled; after excluding 16 patients not sexually active, nine with T4 stage disease and six with metastatic disease, 20 patients were prospectively evaluated. The preoperative erectile function (EF) domain score of the International Index of Erectile Function was 24.3 (±4.1). The score of the EF domain was 17.6 (±7.5), 19.l9 (±7.2), 20.3 (±7.4), 20.5 (±7.4), and 20.6 (±7.4) at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery. In the group of patients in which there were no macroscopic damages to the nerves, only two out of 15 (13.3%) developed erectile dysfunction. All five patients in whom incomplete pelvic nerve preservation was necessary developed erectile dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that nerve sparing technique can reduce the incidence of sexual dysfunction. Unfortunately, the technique is not applicable in every patient. Indications and techniques of autonomic nerve preservation are not standardized. Controlled trials with long-term follow-up seem to be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Oncologic and Video-Assisted Surgery, University Federico II, Naples, Italy. valeriocelentano@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Celentano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabbrocile
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luglio
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tarquini
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bucci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017776:Autonomic Pathways / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control