Influences of three surgical approaches to urethral stricture on the erectile function of the patients

Objective: To evaluate the impacts of three different surgical approaches to urethral stricture on the erectile function of the patients. Methods: This study included 126 male patients with urethral stricture,35 treated by substitution urethroplasty(group A),52 by anastomotic urethroplasty(group B),and 39 by internal urethroplasty(group C). We evaluated the pre-and postoperative erectile function of the patients using IIEF-5 scores by telephone calls and interviews. We also monitored their nocturnal penile tumescence(NPT). Results: The IIEF-5 scores in groups A,B and C were 13. 5 ± 4. 5,11. 1 ± 4. 8 and 14. 5 ± 4. 41 respectively after surgery,all significantly decreased as compared with 17. 1 ± 2. 6,17. 1 ± 3. 0 and 17. 6 ± 2. 2 preoperatively(P 0. 05).Conclusion: All the three surgical approaches can reduce IIEF-5 scores in patients with urethral stricture,but anastomotic urethroplasty may induce a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction than the other two approaches.