title: Male urinary and sexual function after robotic pelvic autonomic nerve-preserving surgery for rectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urinary and sexual dysfunction is the potential complication of rectal cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the urinary and sexual function in male patients with robotic surgery for rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 137 of the 336 male patients who underwent surgery for rectal cancer. Urinary and male sexual function was studied by means of a questionnaire based on the International Prostatic Symptom Score and International Index of Erectile Function. All data were collected before surgery and 12 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who underwent robotic surgery had significantly decreased incidence of partial or complete erectile dysfunction and sexual dysfunction than patients with laparoscopic surgery. The pre- and post-operative total IPSS scores in patients with robotic surgery were significantly less than that with laparoscopic surgeries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic surgery shows distinct advantages in protecting the pelvic autonomic nerves and relieving post-operative sexual dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jieshou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000601:surgery*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000294:innervation; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: laparoscopic surgery; rectal cancer; robotic surgery; sexual dysfunction; total mesorectal excision; urinary dysfunction