How is nerve-sparing surgery well performed?

Abstract

Surgical treatment of rectal cancer is associated with a risk of autonomic nerve damage, and consequence of this may be sexual and urinary dysfunction. The improvement of our understanding of the anatomy and physiology of sexual and urinary function together with continual sophistication of surgery for rectal cancer has decreased the incidence of sexual and urinary dysfunction after rectal surgery. Despite these advances, mentioned functional deficits still present significant factor in the impaired quality of life of these patients. Awareness of the degree of risk for postoperative sexual and urinary dysfunction is important both for the patient and as a standard for appraisal of individual colorectal practice. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. All rights are reserved.