Incidence of Post Operative Sexual Dysfunction Following Left Sided Colon and Rectal Surgery in a Surgical Patient Cohort in Northern Saskatchewan

Abstract

The long-term complications of colon cancer surgery are now being investigated to a greater extent given the improvement in survival rates for all stages of colon and rectal cancer. Patient quality of life is now playing a significant role in the cancer survivorship and sexual complications are part of that survivorship spectrum. Patients and Methods: A sexual health questionnaire (EORTC SHQ-22 © ) was employed to perform an audit of the sexual complications following surgery. Ethics approval was obtained from the university of Saskatchewan and a telephonic interview was conducted. This was pre-empted by a telephonic consent script by our medical office assistant. Results: Twenty-two percent of the patients were deceased, and 52% of the patients could not be reached telephonically. The rates of sexual complications were well within the published rates from tertiary centers employing colorectal specialists. Discussion: Sexual complications are a newer form of complications given the proximity of the pelvic parasympathetic plexus to the sacral promontory. The complication rates for our community surgeons are equivalent to that of colorectal specialists from tertiary centres. Further explanation of the sexual complication risks should form part of the discussion for all surgeons undertaking colon or rectal surgery. Limitation: The lack of documented pre-operative sexual dysfunction and a small patient cohort hampered the findings of this study. Conclusion:The sexual complication rates at our institute are well within published rates of sexual dysfunction, post colonic and rectal surgery.