Climacturia: a comprehensive review assessing pathophysiology, prevalence, impact, and treatment options regarding the "leak of pleasure"

Sexual function and rehabilitation after radiation therapy for prostate cancer: a review

The treatment of prostate cancer is partly guided by patient preferences. Radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy are the standard radical therapies for localized disease and render comparable oncologic outcomes. Considering that survival is high regardless of the chosen treatment, factors such as treatment-related toxicities affecting the patients' quality of life play an important role in their decision. Notably, post-treatment sexual dysfunction, which includes decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculatory dysfunction has been shown to be an important and prevalent concern of prostate cancer survivors. In this literature review, we sought to characterize the sexual complications associated with radiation therapy and map the available sexual rehabilitation options for prostate cancer survivors experiencing sexual dysfunction as a result of radiation therapy. We identified medical, non-biomedical, counseling, and lifestyle modification options for prostate cancer survivors seeking sexual rehabilitation. Future research in this area should address the standardization of sexual side-effect reporting and investigate sexual outcomes and rehabilitation in more diverse groups and of transgender and nonheterosexual prostate cancer survivors.

Neglected side effects to curative prostate cancer treatments

In this narrative review we summarize neglected side effects of curative intended treatment for prostate cancer. They include climacturia, arousal incontinence (AI), orgasmic disturbances such as altered orgasmic sensation, anorgasmia, and orgasm-associated pain (dysorgasmia), ejaculatory dysfunction, and morphological penile alterations in the form of shortening and deformity. Even though they have not received as much interest as erectile dysfunction (ED) or urinary incontinence, these side effects have been shown to negatively impact patient's quality of life. They are common and rates of climacturia after radical prostatectomy (RP) range from 20% and 45%, less after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Decreased orgasmic sensation ranges from 3.9% to 60% after RP and between 36-57% after EBRT. Dysorgasmia ranges from 9.5-15% for both RP and EBRT. Anejculation after EBRT ranges from 11-71% and rates of penile shortening are reported between 0 and 100%. There are no internationally validated questionnaires that adequately asses these side effects. This is necessary if we are to align patient and partner expectations properly and consequently manage them optimally. Neglected side effects should be discussed with patients and their partners preoperatively, as they are associated with bother and may lead to patient's avoiding sexual activity.

Revisiting the penoscrotal approach to artificial urinary sphincter surgery: how does it compare to a perineal incision for initial implantation?

PURPOSE

Artificial urinary sphincters (AUS) remain the gold standard to treat male stress urinary incontinence. AUS implantation can be performed through a penoscrotal or perineal incision depending on surgeon preference.

METHODS

The present study compares initial AUS implantation through two surgical approaches focusing on outcomes of continence and revision. All AUS implanted at an academic medical center between 2000 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 225 AUS implantations were identified, of which, 114 patients who underwent virgin AUS placement were included in the study with a mean follow-up of 28.5 months. A total of 68 patients (59.6%) had AUS placement through penoscrotal incision; while, 46 (40.4%) had a perineal incision. While operative time was significantly shorter for penoscrotal placement (98.6 min vs. 136.3 min, p = 0.001), there were no significant differences in continence rates between either surgical approach with 76.5% socially continent defined as using zero to less than 1 pad per day (safety pad). The overall rate of device erosion or infection was not significantly different between groups. However, the rate of revision or replacement was significantly higher in the perineal group (26.1% v. 8.8%; p = 0.01). On multivariate analysis, the penoscrotal incision predicted a lower rate of device revision (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The penoscrotal approach of AUS placement is associated with shorter operative time. While we observed a lower revision rate compared to the perineal approach, there were equivalent continence outcomes.

A new male sling for minimal to moderate incontinence and climacturia

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are known bothersome sequelae to radical prostatectomy. In recent years, additional attention has been placed on another less commonly described and reported side effect to this surgery, climacturia. While various noninvasive and surgical interventions have been described for the management of climacturia, until recently, none has provided reliable and meaningful results. In the past few years, the Mini-Jupette sling has gained popularity as an adjunct to inflatable penile prosthesis placement in patients with concomitant ED and climacturia. Recent data have also suggested its feasibility in patients with mild SUI. While the original technique described by Pr. Andrianne has shown long-term, reproducible, and safe results, innovative modifications such as the use of autologous rectus fascia, the Male Urethral Mini-Sling and the Mayo Clinic modified Mini-Jupette sling have also been suggested, proof of widespread interest amongst clinicians toward achieving the optimum surgical technique.