Unilateral nerve preservation during parametrectomy is not sufficient to prevent persistent urinary retention after cytoreductive endometriosis surgery

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to quantify the risks of urinary retention following different levels or degrees of nerve preservation during parametrectomies for deep endometriosis (DE). METHODS: Women undergoing laparoscopic and robotic nerve-sparing DE surgeries were studied. The cases were divided into 6 groups according to the degree of preservation of parasympathetic parametrium fibers on each side: P1 (P1 left /P1 right-Excellent preservation: presacral and pararectal fascia bilateral preservation), P2 (P1/P2 or P2/P1, P2/P2-Regular preservation: fascia violation with local fat visualization-either of both sides; and P3 (P1/P3 or P3/P1, P2/P3 or P3/P2, P3/P3)-Poor preservation: musculature and pelvic floor exposure-even if only unilateral. RESULTS: Of a total of 151 women eligible for the study, 110 (72.8%) had excellent nerve preservation; 24 (15.8%) had regular nerve preservation, and 17 (11.2%) had poor-nerve preservation. The incidence of elevated PVR was higher in the P3 group. Thirty-five patients were catheterized post-operatively, more common in the P3 group. In four cases from the P3 group, prolonged intermittent self-catheterization after discharge was necessary. The calculated risk of needing intermittent catheterization in the P3 group was 23.1% up to 8 weeks and 7.7% up to 8 months post-surgery. CONCLUSION: Parametrectomy with poor-nerve preservation can lead to urinary retention, even with excellent contralateral preservation.