Erection- and ejaculation-preserving cystectomy with orthotopic urinary diversion: is it feasible?

Nerve-sparing techniques to preserve sexual function in men undergoing cystoprostatectomy have been documented by different centers. We evaluated the results of the first 4 erection- and ejaculation-preserving cystectomies performed in our department. The ages of patients ranged between 36 and 43 years. In all cases, patients wished to maintain sexual function. Of the cases, 3 patients had pT1 G3 transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) refractory to treatment and one had pT2a adenocarcinoma of the bladder. Extirpation of the bladder and anterior proximal prostate en bloc with preservation of the vasa deferentia, seminal vesicles, posterior prostate, and neurovascular bundles was performed after pelvic lymphadenectomy. W-ileal neobladder was performed by using 40 cm of ileum. All patients had erections at the third month. Of the cases, 2 patients had antegrade ejaculation. The ejaculate volumes were 0.8 and 1.2 mL in patients with antegrade ejaculation. Patients in the other cases had retrograde ejaculation. All patients were continent day and night. We started clean intermittent catheterization in 1 case because of residual urine. There were no local recurrences. One patient with TCC died because of systemic disease in the postoperative 32nd month. The most important drawback of potent cases in cystectomy decision is erectile dysfunction after radical cystectomy. This drawback causes delay of the operation and sometimes mortality. As was the case in other reports, our limited number of cases in this study demonstrated that erection and ejaculation could be preserved in selected groups of patients.