Development of a Risk Model to Identify and Prevent Factors Influencing Erectile Dysfunction After Robotic Radical...

Background/Objectives: Prostate cancer ranks as the second-most prevalent cancer globally, and is the fifth-ranking cause of cancer-related mortality. Radical prostatectomy presents a significant risk of postoperative sequelae, including erectile dysfunction. Postoperative erectile dysfunction adversely affects the patient's quality of life and can severely impact total treatment satisfaction. Nomograms have demonstrated efficacy in forecasting diverse outcomes in urology. We sought to create a nomogram to facilitate a more precise, evidence-based, and individualized prediction of erectile function outcomes following radical prostatectomy. Between January 2018 and January 2022, one hundred and eleven prostate cancer patients had robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, excluding those who had undergone prior transurethral prostatectomy, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy. Demographics, medical records, preoperative and postoperative erectile function statuses, and IIEF scores (≥17 indicating retained erections, <17 indicating full erectile dysfunction) were evaluated. Outcomes: Patients' ages ranged from 45 to 76 years, with an average of 61.18 ± 6.72 years. Patients in the emergency department were considerably older (p = 0.004; p < 0.01) and exhibited elevated Charlson Comorbidity Indices (3.63 ± 0.85; p = 0.004; p < 0.01). Preoperative IIEF scores in ED patients were lower (14.29 ± 5.34), although obturator internus thickness (20.61 ± 2.91) and intraprostatic urethra length (36.48 ± 9.3) were considerably elevated. Altered surgical techniques were linked to maintained erections (p = 0.002; p < 0.01), but traditional approaches were connected with erectile dysfunction (p = 0.007; p < 0.01). Bilateral nerve-sparing procedures were more prevalent among patients preserving erectile function (p = 0.003; p < 0.01). Conclusions: The nomogram, which includes age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, preoperative IIEF, obturator internus thickness, intraprostatic urethra length, surgical technique, and degree of nerve preservation, provides clinicians with a pragmatic instrument for forecasting postoperative erectile dysfunction in prostate cancer patients.