Sexual dysfunctions following low anterior resection of the rectum in rectal cancer patients

• Authors: Marcin Włodarczyk , Justyna Sobolewska , Artur Nowak , Martyna Szewczyk , Piotr Kluska , Katarzyna Dzika , Justyna Darnikowska , Joanna Mik-Wojtczak , Jakub Włodarczyk , Aleksandra Sobolewska-Włodarczyk , Radzisław Trzciński , Łukasz Dziki

Abstracts

EN

Introduction. Low anterior resection of the rectum (LAR) is a treatment of choice in patients with diagnosed low rectal cancer. Rectal cancer surgery has a close relationship with the urinary-sexual organs and also with related nerves and nerve plexus. Thus, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves of the pelvic area may be damaged. As a result of this, the important point is the sexual function loss following rectal surgeries. The aim of the study was to investigate the sexual disorders in patients with rectal cancer who underwent LAR. Materials and methods. In this retrospective study the sexual activity, comfort of the experience, quality of sexual life (QoSL) during 3 periods were analyzed: before surgery, a month after and half a year after surgery. Analysis of demographic characteristics, comorbidities, previous surgeries, toumor characteristics and adjuvant therapy as was performed. Results. Most patients (64/100, 64%) expressed that LAR operation has strongly affected their QoSL, 32 patients reported the mild decrease in QoSL, while only 4 patients stated that did not experience any changes in QoSL. QoSL was assessed in 3 different periods of time: before the operation, 1 month after and 6 months after the operation (22,6±3.7 vs. 11.3±7,9 vs. 17,0±6.3; p<0.0001 respectively). The decreased QoSL one and six months after the surgery were significantly lower in patients with diagnosed hypertension and higher BMI (p=0.0283). Conclusions. Sexual disorders after LAR for rectal cancer are often underestimated and it is very important to be aware of them. In our study, it was determined that male sex, higher BMI and hypertension are related to impair of sexual dysfunction after LAR. We observed that the most severe complaints related to sexual activity occur one month after the procedure, after 6 months in most of the patients' sexual disorders were decreased approaching the initial state.

Keywords

EN

sexual dysfunction; rectal cancer; low anterior resection; surgical treatment outcomes

• Publisher: Index Copernicus International
• Journal: Polish Journal of Surgery
• Year: 2019
• Volume: 91(3)
• Pages: 21-26

Dates

published

2019-04-01

Contributors

author

Marcin Włodarczyk

author

Justyna Sobolewska

author

Artur Nowak

author

Martyna Szewczyk

author

Piotr Kluska

author

Katarzyna Dzika

author

Justyna Darnikowska

author

Joanna Mik-Wojtczak

author

Jakub Włodarczyk

author

Aleksandra Sobolewska-Włodarczyk

author

Radzisław Trzciński

author

Łukasz Dziki

Identifiers

DOI

10.5604/01.3001.0013.1482