Outcomes of the management of post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection-associated anejaculation.
What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Modern surgical techniques have allowed preservation of fertility in most patients after post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND), but some patients still have infertility after surgery. We reviewed our experience treating infertility in 26 men after PC-RPLND. Using a structured clinical pathway we obtained sperm in 81% of men for use in assisted reproduction.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of a clinical pathway on sperm retrieval outcomes in patients presenting with infertility after post-chemotherapy (PC) retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND).


METHODS
We carried out a retrospective review of patients with advanced testicular cancer, presenting with infertility after PC-RPLND in a large reproductive urology practice. We implemented a clinical pathway where pseudoephedrine was first administered. If this medication failed, electroejaculation (EEJ) and/or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) was carried out. The primary outcome was retrieval of sperm for use in assisted reproduction.


RESULTS
Four men had retrograde ejaculation, of whom two converted to antegrade ejaculation with medical therapy. In all, 22 patients had failure of emission (FOE) and, of these, no patient converted to antegrade ejaculation with medication. In patients with FOE, sperm was found in 15/20 of those experiencing a successful EEJ. Seven patients underwent TESE for azoospermia on EEJ or no ejaculate on EEJ, three of whom had sperm found on TESE. Sperm was found for assisted reproduction in 81% (21/26) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
There appears to be no role for the use of pseudoephedrine therapy in patients with FOE after PC-RPLND. The use of a structured clinical pathway may optimize patient care.
Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program, Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
Wayland
W
Hsiao
Serkan
S
Deveci
John P
JP
Mulhall
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004542:Ejaculation; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D054199:Pseudoephedrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054199:Pseudoephedrine