EVERiST Accessory pudendal artery impact on erections post-RARP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
EVERiST: Erectile function recovery after bilateral neuroVascular bundle sparing robot assisted radical prostatEctomy in patients with or without an accessory pudendal aRtery detected on diagnoSTic multiparametric MRI
IRAS ID
335003
Contact name
Zafer Tandogdu
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK, with primary treatment options for localized disease being robotic prostatectomy or radical radiotherapy. Sexual side effects significantly impact patients' quality of life, with neurovascular bundle sparing techniques offering varied success in minimizing these effects. This variability complicates personalized counselling before surgery, often leading to patient disengagement due to uncertainties and difficulties in managing post-surgery sexual issues. Personalized predictions before surgery could help set realistic expectations regarding the likelihood and timeline of recovery, improving decision-making, preparation, and post-treatment engagement, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and satisfaction. Erectile dysfunction after surgery remains poorly understood; while some patients recover erections naturally, most require treatments such as medications or injections within the first year. This may relate to an additional artery to the penis present in up to a third of patients, identifiable through advancements in imaging. Preserving these arteries might improve erection recovery, but no independent studies have examined whether surgery effectively preserves these vessels or their impact on post-operative recovery. These arteries vary between individuals and may not always align with the areas surgeons traditionally target. Our study will map each patient’s penile blood vessels and compare this to surgical footage to evaluate preservation accuracy. Prior studies have lacked thorough data collection; we will focus on men with good pre-surgery sexual function whose surgeons aimed to preserve nerves and blood vessels. By addressing these gaps, we aim to develop a more accurate method of predicting sexual function outcomes after prostate surgery, enabling better-informed treatment decisions. The primary aim of our study is to assess the feasibility of investigating the impact of preserving these additional arteries on erection recovery and quality of life after robotic radical prostatectomy. This research will lay the groundwork for larger studies to improve patient counselling and expectations.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0264
Date of REC Opinion
2 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion