To investigate the impact of retaining or not retaining the Denonvilliers fascia (DVF) on the urinary and sexual function of male patients after laparoscopic radical resection of low rectal cancer.

The clinical data of 108 male patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection of low rectal cancer from March 2018 to March 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. and who were randomly divided into the resection group(n=54 cases), and the retention group (n=54 cases), according to the preservation of DVF or not. Statistical analysis were performed by using SPSS19.0 software. The perioperative indexes such as operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of bowel resection, number of lymph node dissection were expressed as (±s), the difference between groups were examined by using T test., The complications were examined by using χ² test , and the grade of urination and sexual function were analyzed by using nonparametric rank sum test, A P value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant difference.

The operation time in the retention group was significantly longer than that in the resection group, and the amount of blood loss and intraoperative transfusion were less than those in the resection group respectively(P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between two groups in terms of the length of resected bowel specimens and the number of harvested lymph nodes (P>0.05). The maximum urine flow, maximum detrusor systolic pressure, maximum urethral pressure and bladder in the retention group were much lower than those in the resection group respectively (P<0.05). The cysts compliance was significantly higher than that in the resection group; the incidence of voiding dysfunction, ejaculation dysfunction and erectile dysfunction were lower than those in the resection group.(P<0.05) There was no significantly difference between the two groups in terms of the incidence of pelvic abscess, anal pain, intestinal obstruction (P>0.05).

For male patients with low rectal cancer underwent laparoscopic radical resection, retaining the Denonvilliers fascia could significantly reduce blood loss and transfusion, with improved postoperative indexes, urination function, and sexual function, which is safe and effective.