Risk factors for sexual dysfunction after rectal cancer treatment.

This study aimed to identify risk factors for long-term sexual dysfunction (SD) after rectal cancer treatment. Patients with resectable rectal cancer were randomised to total mesorectal excision with or without preoperative radiotherapy (PRT). Preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months postoperatively, SD scores were filled out in questionnaires. Possible risk factors for postoperative deterioration of sexual functioning, including patients' demographics, tumour-specific factors and treatment-related variables, were investigated with univariate and multivariable regression analyses. Increase in general SD, erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory problems were reported by 76.4, 79.8 and 72.2 percent of the male patients, respectively. Risk factors were nerve damage, blood loss, anastomotic leakage, PRT and the presence of a stoma. In female patients, increase in general SD, dyspareunia and vaginal dryness were reported by 61.5, 59.1 and 56.6 percent, respectively. This was associated with PRT and the presence of a stoma. SD occurs frequently after rectal cancer treatment and is caused by surgical (nerve) damage with an additional effect of PRT. Patients should be informed preoperatively, and education of surgeons in neuroanatomy may provide the key to the improvement of functional outcome.

Urinary dysfunction after rectal cancer treatment is mainly caused by surgery.

BACKGROUND: Urinary dysfunction (UD) is common after rectal cancer treatment, but the contribution of each treatment component (surgery and radiotherapy) to its development remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate UD during 5 years after total mesorectal excision (TME) and to investigate the influence of preoperative radiotherapy (PRT) and surgical factors. METHODS: Patients with operable rectal cancer were randomized to TME with or without PRT. Questionnaires concerning UD were completed by 785 patients before and at several time points after surgery. Possible risk factors, including PRT, demographics, tumour location, and type and extent of resection, were investigated by multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS: Long-term incontinence was reported by 38.1 per cent of patients, of whom 72.0 per cent had normal preoperative function. Preoperative incontinence (relative risk (RR) 2.75, P = 0.001) and female sex (RR 2.77, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors. Long-term difficulty in bladder emptying was reported by 30.6 per cent of patients, of whom 65.0 per cent had normal preoperative function. Preoperative difficulty in bladder emptying (RR 2.94, P < 0.001), peroperative blood loss (RR 1.73, P = 0.028) and autonomic nerve damage (RR 2.82, P = 0.024) were independent risk factors. PRT was not associated with UD. CONCLUSION: UD is a significant clinical problem after rectal cancer treatment and is not related to PRT, but rather to surgical nerve damage.

The Gynaecologic Leiden Questionnaire: psychometric properties of a self-report questionnaire of sexual function and vaginal changes for gynaecological cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the items concerning sexual functioning of the Gynaecologic Leiden Questionnaire (LQ), which consists of items for post operative morbidity for women with cancer. METHODS: The total study sample consisted of 198 subjects: 66 patients treated for cervical cancer, 66 patients with sexual complaints and 66 subjects from the general population. RESULTS: By means of factor analysis three subscales were derived: Female Sexual Complaints, Female Sexual Function and Female Orgasm. The reliability of the subscales appeared to be satisfactory. The scores on the three subscales differentiated well between the patients treated for cervical cancer, patients with sexual complaints and the subjects from the general population. Furthermore, the subscales were sensitive to changes within the patients treated for cervical cancer. The convergent and divergent construct validities of the LQ were investigated using other instruments measuring sexual functioning, sexual dissatisfaction, marital distress, general life distress and psychological distress. The LQ subscales were found to represent relatively independent constructs. CONCLUSION: The results support the reliability and psychometric validity of the LQ in the assessment of sexual functioning and vaginal changes in gynaecological cancer patients.

Vaginal blood flow after radical hysterectomy with and without nerve sparing. A preliminary report.

Radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy (RHL) for cervical cancer causes damage to the autonomic nerves, which are responsible for increased vaginal blood flow during sexual arousal. The aim of the study of which we now report preliminary data was to determine whether a nerve-sparing technique leads to an objectively less disturbed vaginal blood flow response during sexual stimulation. Photoplethysmographic assessment of vaginal pulse amplitude (VPA) during sexual stimulation by erotic films was performed. Subjective sexual arousal was assessed after each stimulus. Thirteen women after conventional RHL, 10 women after nerve-sparing RHL, and 14 healthy premenopausal women participated. Data were collected between January and August 2006. The main outcome measure was the logarithmically transformed mean VPA. To detect statistically significant differences in mean VPA levels between the three groups, a univariate analysis of variance was used. Mean VPA differed between the three groups (P= 0.014). The conventional group had a lower vaginal blood flow response than the control group (P= 0.016), which tended also to be lower than that of the nerve-sparing group (P= 0.097). These differences were critically dependent on baseline vaginal blood flow differences between the groups. The conventional group follows a vaginal blood flow pattern similar to postmenopausal women. Conventional RHL is associated with an overall disturbed vaginal blood flow response compared with healthy controls. Because it is not observed to the same extent after nerve-sparing RHL, it seems that the nerve-sparing technique leads to a better overall vaginal blood flow caused by less denervation of the vagina.

Temporomandibular joint ankylosis in cats and dogs. A report of 10 cases.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is characterized by difficulty or inability to open the mouth. The ankylosis may be articular ('true') or extra-articular ('false'). Clinical signs, radiographic studies, treatment and follow-up are presented in a retrospective study involving five cats and five dogs. The findings were compared with TMJ ankylosis in humans. CT imaging with three-dimensional reconstruction proved to be of great value in determining the extent of the abnormalities and helped with preoperative planning. Articular TMJ ankylosis occurred in six animals and extra-articular TMJ ankylosis was found in the other four cases. In three cats and in three dogs, the TMJ ankylosis was trauma related; the remaining patients were diagnosed with a tumour. Resection of ankylosing tissue in false ankylosis or gap arthroplasty in true ankylosis was successful in all of the trauma induced cases. In the two cats, with tumour related ankylosis, the ankylosis was caused by an osteoma and resection had a good prognosis, whereas the two dogs had to be euthanatized.

Risk factors for faecal incontinence after rectal cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND: Low anterior resection (LAR) may result in faecal incontinence. This study aimed to identify risk factors for long-term faecal incontinence after total mesorectal excision (TME) with or without preoperative radiotherapy (PRT). METHODS: Between 1996 and 1999, patients with operable rectal cancer were randomized to TME with or without PRT. Eligible patients who underwent LAR were studied retrospectively at 2 years (399 patients) and 5 years (339) after TME. RESULTS: At 5 years after surgery faecal incontinence was reported by 61.5 per cent of patients who had PRT and 38.8 per cent of those who did not (P < 0.001). Excessive blood loss and height of the tumour were associated with long-term faecal incontinence, but only in patients treated with PRT. CONCLUSION: Faecal incontinence is likely to occur after PRT and TME, especially when the perineum is irradiated.

An observational longitudinal study to evaluate miction, defecation, and sexual function after radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for early-stage cervical cancer.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the problems with miction, defecation, and sexuality after a radical hysterectomy with or without adjuvant radiotherapy for the treatment of cervical cancer stage I-IIA. This study included an observational longitudinal study of self-reported bladder, defecation, and sexual problems with a baseline score. Ninety-four women were included in the study. An age-matched control group consisted of 224 women. The patients showed significantly more negative effects on sexual function compared with both the controls and their situation before the treatment throughout 24 months of follow-up. The problems included less lubrication, a narrow and short vagina, senseless areas around the labia, dyspareunia, and sexual dissatisfaction. Up to 12 months after the treatment, the patients complained significantly more of little or no urge to urinate and diarrhea as compared with the controls. Adjuvant radiotherapy did not increase the risk of bladder dysfunction, colorectal motility disorders, and sexual functions. We conclude that a radical hysterectomy for the treatment of early-stage cervical carcinoma is associated with adverse effects mainly on sexual functioning.

Objective assessment of sexual arousal in women with a history of hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The potential contribution of psychological and anatomical changes to sexual dysfunction following hysterectomy is not clear. Radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer causes surgical damage to the autonomic nerves which are responsible for the increased vaginal blood flow during sexual arousal. Simple hysterectomy causes more limited nerve disruption. Photoplethysmographic assessment of vaginal pulse amplitude objectively measures vaginal blood flow during sexual arousal. We hypothesised that damage of the autonomic nerves results in a disrupted vaginal blood flow response during sexual stimulation. DESIGN: Between-groups comparison of vaginal pulse amplitude. SETTING: University hospital. SAMPLE: Twelve women with a history of radical hysterectomy, 12 women with a history of simple abdomonal hysterectomy and 17 aged-matched controls. METHODS: Photoplethysmographic assessment of vaginal pulse amplitude during sexual stimulation by erotic films. Self-reported ratings of subjective sexual arousal were collected after each erotic stimulus condition. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Maximum vaginal pulse amplitude. RESULTS: Maximum vaginal pulse amplitude differed between the three groups (P= 0.043). Women with a history of radical hysterectomy had a lower response than controls (P= 0.015). Women in the radical hysterectomy group and controls reported an equally strong subjective arousal. Women with a history of simple hysterectomy showed an intermediate maximum vaginal pulse amplitude. CONCLUSIONS: Radical hysterectomy seems associated with a disturbed vaginal blood flow response during sexual arousal. This cannot be explained solely by uteric extirpation, since it was not observed to the same extent after simple hysterectomy, but might be related to a denervation of the vagina which increases with increasing radicality of surgery.

Nerve sparing radical hysterectomy: latest developments and historical perspective.

Autonomic nerve damage during surgery is thought to play a crucial role in the aetiology of bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and colorectal motility disorders which are seen in patients after radical hysterectomy. In order to prevent these complications, Japanese gynaecologists introduced a surgical technique with preservation of the pelvic autonomic nerves in the 1960s. In the 1980s the first English paper was published. Since then several surgical approaches have been described, i.e. liposuction, electrical stimulation to locate nerves intra-operatively and laparoscopically assisted techniques. Recently, more attention is being paid to the importance of sparing the sympathetic hypogastric nerve. All authors report results on small cohorts of patients. The incidence of urinary dysfunction seems very low after nerve sparing. Sparing the autonomic nerves during radical hysterectomy seems feasible and safe in both Japanese and Western patients. Literature review does not provide strong clues for a compromised radicality and cure due to nerve sparing. Future larger clinical trials will have to decide whether the technique of nerve sparing radical hysterectomy could be implemented as a standard treatment for cervical cancer patients.

[Nerve sparing radical hysterectomy in the case of cervical cancer]. / Zenuwsparende radicale hysterectomie bij cervixcarcinoom.

Autonomous pelvic nerves are essential for bladder and rectum function as well as sexuality. These nerves are usually permanent damaged during radical oncological surgery and this results in urological, sexual and proctological morbidity. Japanese surgeons have paved the way for surgical approaches to dissect these nerves during surgery and leave them intact. At the Department of Gynaecology of the Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands, a new surgical technique has been developed to spare the autonomous pelvic nerves during radical hysterectomy. In this procedure the lateral parts of the sacro-uterine ligament, through which the N. hypogastricus passes bilaterally, are left intact. The initial results of this nerve-sparing surgical technique during radical hysterectomy seem to be promising. The operation was easy to perform, with almost no extra blood loss and an extra operating time of just 10-15 minutes. Postoperative recovery of the bladder function occurred after a mean period of 9 days.

A nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy: guidelines and feasibility in Western patients.

Surgical damage to the pelvic autonomic nerves during radical hysterectomy is thought to be responsible for considerable morbidity, i.e., impaired bladder function, defecation problems, and sexual dysfunction. Previous anatomical studies and detailed study of surgical techniques in various Japanese oncology centers demonstrated that the anatomy of the pelvic autonomic nerve plexus permits a systematic surgical approach to preserve these nerves during radical hysterectomy without compromising radicality. We introduced elements of the Japanese nerve-preserving techniques and carried out a feasibility study in ten consecutive Dutch patients. The technique involved three steps: first, the identification and preservation of the hypogastric nerve in a loose tissue sheath underneath the ureter and lateral to the sacro-uterine ligaments; second, the inferior hypogastric plexus in the parametrium is lateralized and avoided during parametrial transsection; third, the most distal part of the inferior hypogastric plexus is preserved during the dissection of the posterior part of the vesico-uterine ligament. The clinical study showed that the procedure is feasible and safe, except possibly when used with very obese patients and patients with broad, bulky tumors. Surgical preservation of the pelvic autonomic nerves in radical hysterectomy deserves consideration in the quest to improve both cure and quality of life in cervical cancer patients.

A prospective study on radical and nerve-preserving surgery for rectal cancer in the Netherlands.

INTRODUCTION: Preservation of the pelvic autonomic nerves is thought to lower bladder and sexual dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery. A prospective study was undertaken in a Dutch population to evaluate functional outcome, local recurrence and survival of a Japanese operative technique combining nerve preservation with radical tumour resection. METHODS: Forty-seven patients were operated upon by a Japanese surgeon. Voiding and sexual function were prospectively analysed using questionnaires. Two-year follow-up on urinary function was complete in 73%, and 2-year follow-up of male sexual function was complete in 77%. Median follow-up for survival and recurrence was 42 months and was complete in all patients. RESULTS: Five patients (19%) developed minor urinary incontinence in the period between 1 and 2 years of follow-up. Six patients (22%) had a persistently elevated frequency of voiding. There was no statistically significant correlation between the extent of nerve preservation and the reported minor voiding dysfunctions. None of the patients reported major incontinence of urine. Impotence was related to sacrifice of the inferior hypogastric plexus and ejaculatory dysfunction was related to sacrifice of the superior hypogastric plexus. Sexual function did not change during follow-up. Of 42 curatively-operated patients, three (7.1%) developed local recurrence. Sixty-seven per cent were overall free of recurrence. Disease-free survival was 57%. CONCLUSIONS: Preservation of the pelvic autonomic nerves minimizes bladder dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery. The preservation of the total autonomic nerve system is essential for normal sexual function in male patients. Nerve preservation does not compromise radicality in mesorectal excision. Mesorectal excision should involve identification and preservation of the pelvic autonomic nerves.

Avoiding long-term disturbance to bladder and sexual function in pelvic surgery, particularly with rectal cancer.

Urinary and sexual dysfunction are common problems after rectal cancer surgery, and the likely cause is damage to the pelvic autonomic nerves during surgery. In recent years, attention has been focused on preserving the autonomic nerves through a technique which is usually combined with total mesorectal excision or radical pelvic lymphadenectomy. The autonomic nerves consist of the paired sympathetic hypogastric nerve, sacral splanchnic nerves, and the pelvic autonomic nerve plexus. We will demonstrate the anatomy of the pelvic autonomic nerves and the relation of these nerves to the mesorectal fascial planes, and review the medical literature on sexual and urinary dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery with and without autonomic nerve preservation.

Radical and nerve-preserving surgery for rectal cancer in The Netherlands: a prospective study on morbidity and functional outcome.

BACKGROUND: Operative procedures for primary rectal cancer from Japan combine pelvic nerve-preserving techniques with radical tumour resection to ensure optimal local tumour control with minimal bladder and sexual dysfunction. A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate morbidity and functional outcome of such a technique in Dutch patients. METHODS: Forty-seven patients were operated on by a Japanese surgeon. Postoperative course was monitored. Voiding and sexual function were analysed using questionnaires completed by patients. RESULTS: After operation, only prolonged paralytic ileus (five of 47 patients) and perineal wound dehiscence (five of 18) occurred more frequently than reported in literature. There were no deaths. No patient developed urinary incontinence. Three of 11 women and 19 of 30 men were sexually active. Two men were impotent after operation. Impotence was related to sacrifice of the inferior hypogastric plexus (P = 0.037). Preservation of the superior hypogastric plexus was crucial for ejaculation (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: A relationship between sacrifice of specific nerve structures and accompanying dysfunction was established. The nerve-preserving technique yields good results in terms of morbidity and functional outcome, and should be considered for adoption as a standard surgical procedure for primary rectal cancer.