Clinical indications and outcomes with nerve-sparing cystectomy in patients with bladder cancer

The autonomic sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers from the pelvic plexus pass through the dorsomedial pedicle of the bladder ending as the paraprostatic neurovascular bundle or paravaginal plexus before supplying the urogenital diaphragm, sphincter, and erectile organs. Preservation of the autonomic innervation is important for sexual, lower urinary tract, and bowel function. Oncologic outcome is not compromised by a nerve-sparing cystectomy if adequate selection criteria are applied. During pelvic lymphadenectomy nerve sparing is not impaired as long as the dissection is performed on the lateral, not medial side of the ureters, where the nerves lie. Nerve-sparing radical cystectomy preserves sexual function and, in the case of orthotopic bladder substitution, better continence, and decreased catheterization rates (especially in women) are achieved. Therefore, under the proper circumstances, nerve-sparing radical cystectomy is to be strongly recommended.