Evaluation of erectile function after urethral reconstruction: a prospective study.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Andrology
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Urethral stricture disease affects many men, often requiring reconstructive surgery.
• Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a potential complication following urethroplasty.
• Assessing and predicting ED post-surgery is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate erectile function after urethral reconstructive surgery.
• To identify clinical risk factors associated with post-operative ED.
• To develop a predictive model for ED following urethroplasty.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 125 male patients undergoing urethroplasty (2003-2007).
• Assessment of erectile function using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire (SLQQ), and Quality of Life Questionnaire (QoLQ).
• Logistic regression analysis to determine predictive factors for ED.

Main Results:

• Significant decrease in IIEF-5 and SLQQ scores at 3 months post-surgery (P < 0.05).
• Partial rebound of IIEF-5 scores observed at 6 months post-surgery.
• Posterior urethral stricture, stricture recurrence, and surgical technique (end-to-end anastomosis) were significant predictors of ED.

Conclusions:

• Urethral reconstructive surgery can temporarily impact erectile function.
• Specific factors like stricture location and surgical approach strongly correlate with ED risk.
• A predictive model can assist in clinical decision-making for patients with urethral strictures.