BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: In this study, we assessed the relationship between changes in intraoperative rectal temperature and erectile function in patients who have undergone transurethral resection of the prostate.
METHODS: Eighty-six potential patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia-induced lower urinary tract symptoms were studied. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1-small prostates (< 40 ml) and group 2-large prostates (≥ 40 ml), as determined by transrectal ultrasound measurement. The intraoperative rectal temperature was evaluated using a transrectal thermosensor and the differences between the highest intra- and preoperative temperatures were recorded. The erectile function at baseline, at three months and at one-year postoperatively was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire.
RESULTS: Intraoperative rectal temperature differences were 0.54 ± 0.24°C for group 1 (n=45) and 0.44 ± 0.20°C for group 2 (n=41), (p=0.04). The IIEF-5 scores for group1 and group 2 were, respectively, 20.9 ± 1.6 and 20.6 ± 1.6 at baseline (p=0.32), 17.3 ± 2.9 and 18.7 ± 3.2 (p=0.037) at 3 months, 17.9 ± 2.7 and 18.7 ± 3.0 (p=0.17) at 1 year postoperatively. The deterioration of erectile function at 3 months post-operatively was observed for both groups. The percentage of retrograde ejaculation between two groups was not significantly different (p=0.33) at 1 year postoperatively.
CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that a higher intraoperative rectal temperature difference caused by transurethral resection of the prostate might affect the postoperative erectile function, particularly in patients with a small prostate.
Written by:
Liu CK, Liao CH, Wan KS, Lee WK, Jeng HS, Shia BC, Chen CC, Ko MC. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Zhong-Xing Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Reference: J Formos Med Assoc. 2012 Jun;111(6):320-4.
doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2011.01.008
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22748622
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