Erectile Function Recovery Rate after Radical Prostatectomy: A Meta-Analysis

  1. Raanan Tal MD1,
  2. Hannah H. Alphs MD1,
  3. Paul Krebs PhD2,
  4. Christian J. Nelson PhD2,
  5. John P. Mulhall MD1,*

Article first published online: 9 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01351.x

Issue

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

Volume 6, Issue 9, pages 2538–2546, September 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Tal, R., Alphs, H. H., Krebs, P., Nelson, C. J. and Mulhall, J. P. (2009), Erectile Function Recovery Rate after Radical Prostatectomy: A Meta-Analysis. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6: 2538–2546. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01351.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Male Sexual & Reproductive Medicine Program, Urology Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA;

  2. 2

    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

*John P. Mulhall, MD, Department of Surgery, Male Sexual & Reproductive Medicine Program, Urology Service, Sidney Kimmel Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 353 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA. Tel: 646-422-4359; Fax: 212-988-0768; E-mail: mulhalj1@mskcc.org

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 26 AUG 2009
  2. Article first published online: 9 JUN 2009

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Keywords:

  • Erectile Function;
  • Radical Prostatectomy;
  • Meta-Analysis;
  • Factors Affecting Erection Recovery Rate

ABSTRACT

Introduction.  Erectile function recovery (EFR) rates after radical prostatectomy (RP) vary greatly based on a number of factors, such as erectile dysfunction (ED) definition, data acquisition means, time-point postsurgery, and population studied.

Aim.  To conduct a meta-analysis of carefully selected reports from the available literature to define the EFR rate post-RP.

Main Outcome Measures.  EFR rate after RP.

Methods.  An EMBASE and MEDLINE search was conducted for the time range 1985–2007. Articles were assessed blindly by strict inclusion criteria: report of EFR data post-RP, study population ≥50 patients, ≥1 year follow-up, nerve-sparing status declared, no presurgery ED, and no other prostate cancer therapy. Meta-analysis was conducted to determine the EFR rate and relative risks (RR) for dichotomous subgroups.

Results.  A total of 212 relevant studies were identified; only 22 (10%) met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed (9,965 RPs, EFR data: 4,983 subjects). Mean study population size: 226.5, standard deviation = 384.1 (range: 17–1,834). Overall EFR rate was 58%. Single center series publications (k = 19) reported a higher EFR rate compared with multicenter series publications (k = 3): 60% vs. 33%, RR = 1.82, P = 0.001. Studies reporting ≥18-month follow-up (k = 10) reported higher EFR rate vs. studies with <18-month follow-up (k = 12), 60% vs. 56%, RR = 1.07, P = 0.02. Open RP (k = 16) and laparoscopic RP (k = 4) had similar EFR (57% vs. 58%), while robot-assisted RP resulted in a higher EFR rate (k = 2), 73% compared with these other approaches, P = 0.001. Patients <60 years old had a higher EFR rate vs. patients ≥60 years, 77% vs. 61%, RR = 1.26, P = 0.001.

Conclusions.  These data indicate that most of the published literature does not meet strict criteria for reporting post-RP EFR. Single and multiple surgeon series have comparable EFR rates, but single center studies have a higher EFR. Younger men have higher EFR and no significant difference in EFR between ORP and LRP is evident. Tal R, Alphs HH, Krebs P, Nelson CJ, and Mulhall JP. Erectile function recovery rate after radical prostatectomy: A meta-analysis. J Sex Med 2009;6:2538–2546.

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