Urinary and sexual dysfunction after rectosigmoid surgery

Urodynamic investigations were performed on 24 patients undergoing anterior resection or abdominoperineal excision of the rectum for carcinoma or benign disease. Anterior resection did not cause any changes in bladder function, but 4 out of the 10 preoperatively potent males (40%) had ejaculatory or erectile dysfunction after surgery. Bladder decentralization was observed in 4 out of 9 patients (44%) after abdominoperineal excision. Pressure measurements from abdominal stomas can be irrelevant and should be avoided. Postoperative urodynamic findings are difficult to interpret without a knowledge of the preoperative state of lower urinary tract function.