Male and Female Urogenital Dysfunction after Operation for Rectal Carcinoma

Abstract

Rectal operations for cancer are different with regard to radicality and nerve-sparing technique. A retrospective study was carried out to examine the incidence of urogenital dysfunctions after traditional radical surgery without particular emphasis on the nerve-sparing technique. A self-assessment questionnaire asking patients to compare postoperative with preoperative function was used. The response rate was 82%. Postoperatively 45% of the men and 43% of the women had reduced libido, while sexual activity was decreased in 59 and 43%, respectively. 41% experienced loss of erection and ejaculation. 20% of the women reported dyspareunia, but due to the small sample size interpretation must be careful. A higher response rate was obtained for urological function. Incontinence was experienced by 14% of the men and 27% of the women. Similar differences were shown for urinary bladder emptying. Our results indicate that urogenital function is severely impaired in many patients after traditional radical rectal surgery. Refinement of the surgical technique should be considered for rectal cancer, preferably as part of a prospective trial.