A prospective study of erectile dysfunction in men after pelvic surgical procedures and its association with non-modifiable risk factors

Abstract

Objective

A pelvic surgery can cause erectile dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate erectile function at various times after pelvic surgery in male patients; to search the non-modifiable risk factors associated with the presence and intensity of sexuality in these patients. This prospective study used the erectile dysfunction IIEF scale.

Results

The study population comprised of 106 male patients who had undergone minor pelvic surgery at least 9 months before and during the 2010–2016 period in the 4th Surgical Clinic. A control group of healthy males (N = 106) who underwent no pelvic surgery matched for age was also used for reference values. The main age of the participants was 66.16 ± 13.07 years old. A history of colectomy was present in 36.8%, 18.9% had undergone sigmoidectomy, and 33% inguinal hernia repair. The percentage of severe erectile function increased from 38.7% before surgery to 48.1% (25% increase) after surgery, at the end of the follow-up period (p < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis model, age emerged as an independent predictor of erectile function (p < 0.001). Age was the most important determinant of the IIEF score, which was aggravated by 25% from the first to the last assessment of patients.