Radical consequence in the sexuality of male patients operated for colorectal carcinoma.

Sixty sexually-active male patients affected by colorectal cancer and surgically treated at the Department of Surgery at University of Patras between 1981 and 1987 were interviewed by structured questionnaire to evaluate the etiology of sexual dysfunction. Patients were divided into three groups: (1) 20 patients, mean age 60.5 years (range 39-70), subjected to high anterior resection for carcinoma of the sigmoid colon (not lower than 18 cm from the anal margins, 1.2% Dukes' A, 31% Dukes' B, 67.8% Dukes' C); (2) 20 patients, mean age 62.4 years (range 43-70), subjected to low anterior resection (not more than 8 cm from the anal margins, 3% Dukes' A, 36% Dukes' B, 61% Dukes' C); and (3) 20 patients, mean age 59.75 years (range 27-70), subjected to abdominoperineal surgery (Miles' technique) in whom the malignancy was in the distal rectum (8% Dukes' A, 32% Dukes' B, 60% Dukes' C). The first group served as the control. All the anastomoses in the low anterior resection group were performed by manual suture. Statistical evaluation of the three groups was by the chi 2-test. The form of sexual dysfunction, (1) cessation of sexual relationship, (2) absence of erection, (3) impossible penetration or (4) absence of ejaculation, varied according to the type of operation, the frequency of each form being 5%, 5%, 30%, 20% for the high anterior resection, 65%, 45%, 60%, 50% for Miles' operation and 20%, 25%, 45%, 5% for the low anterior resection respectively.