[Preservation of erectile function in patients with prostatic cancer after radical prostatectomy]

Radical retropubic prostatectomy (RPPE) for local prostatic cancer was made in 226 patients. Neurovascular bundles were preserved on one or both sides in 68 (30%) of them. Sixty one (90%) of these patients filled in questionnaires. In 37 (61%) of them the bundles were preserved unilaterally, in 24 (39%)--bilaterally. Only 7 (19%) patients had 4-5 score erection after unilateral nerve-preserving RPPE, 16 (43%) had tumescence. 0 score tumescence was detected in 14 (38%) patients of this group. Thirteen (54%) patients after RPPE with bilateral preservation of the bundles had 4-5 score erection. 0 score erection was in 3 (12%) patients of this group. Comparison of the patients under and over 60 years of age has shown that younger patients' erectile function recovers more quickly: in unilateral nerve-preserving RPPE in 20 and 12%, respectively; in bilateral operation--in 47 and 39%, respectively. Thus, erectile function can be preserved in patients after RPPE in careful preoperative selection of the candidates and in conduction of surgery meeting all modern requirements.