Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess postprostatectomy erectile function compared to preoperative status by subjective patient perception and the abbreviated International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Materials and methods: The study used data from a prospectively collected database and a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study in patients following radical prostatectomy. Erectile function was assessed with the IIEF-5 and the question "Is your erectile function as good as before the surgery (yes/no)". Patients were included if they were sexually active before surgery and had at least 1 year of follow-up. The main outcome measure was the proportion of patients returning to self-perceived baseline erectile function. Secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients returning to baseline erectile function according to the IIEF-5 and predictors of return to baseline function. Results: Questionnaires from 210 patients were available. Overall, 14 patients (6.7%) reported that their erections were as good as before surgery. Bilateral nerve-sparing was the only significant predictor of a return to baseline erectile function (p = 0.004). Forty-three patients (20.5%), who did not report use of erectile AIDS, showed no decline in IIEF-5 score. When including patients who used erectogenic AIDS, 69 (32.9%) maintained their preoperative IIEF-5 score. On multivariate analysis a low preoperative IIEF-5 score was a significant predictor of return to baseline IIEF-5 score (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Return to subjective baseline erectile function following radical prostatectomy is rare. The IIEF-5 questionnaire may not adequately reflect patients experience. This should be considered in preoperative patient counselling.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Scandinavian Journal of Urology |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Pages (from-to) | 160-3 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| ISSN | 2168-1805 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 3 May 2016 |
