Influence of transurethral enucleation with bipolar of the prostate on erectile function: Prospective analysis of 51 patients at 12-month follow-up

BACKGROUND: Transurethral enucleation with bipolar (TUEB) is a safe and effective surgery for benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). However, few data exist concerning the influence of TUEB on erectile function (EF) in patients with BPO. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of TUEB on EF in patients with BPO at 3- and 12-month follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 51 patients who underwent TUEB from June 2016 to April 2020. We evaluated maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine (PVR), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) preoperatively and at 3- and 12-month follow-up. We classified the patients according to their preoperative IIEF-5 score into group 1 (IIEF-5 ≥10; n = 24) and group 2 (IIEF-5 <10; n = 27), and for further evaluation of EF, into subgroups a: severe (IIEF-5 5–7), b: moderate (8–11), c: mild to moderate (12–16), d: mild (17–21), and e: no erectile dysfunction (22–25). Data are displayed as median or median (interquartile range). RESULTS: The study comprised 51 patients with a median age of 75 (70.5–79.5) years. Median prostate and transition zone volumes were 69.5 (46.5–78.8) mL and 30.5 (19–43) mL, respectively. Urinary function improved significantly when comparing respective preoperative, 3-month, and 12-month follow-up values: Qmax (7.6, 12.9, 15.2 mL/s), PVR (50, 0, 0 mL), IPSS (20.5, 9, 6), and QoL (5, 2, 2), respectively. There was no significant change in IIEF-5 score across the three time points: 9, 7, 8. The IIEF-5 score slightly but significantly increased between the preoperative and 12-month follow-up values in group 2 (5, 5, 6) and subgroup a (5, 5, 5). CONCLUSION: TUEB was effective and safe surgery for patients with BPO and showed no significant influence on EF at 12-month follow-up after TUEB in patients with BPO.