Bladder dysfunction, after a radical hysterectomy are a decrease in
the musculo-elastic properties of the bladder wall caused by surgical injury and partial
damage to the autonomic innervation of the bladder.
Urologic injury is often occurring as a result of radical hysterectomy. Radical hysterectomy
requires resection of parametrium and the upper aspect of the vagina. The extent of the lower
urinary tract dysfunction after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer is associated with the
radicality of the operation. The data suggest that the most damaging step for bladder
dysfunction was vaginal and paravaginal tissue resection, which may be explained by the
anatomy of the parasympathetic fibers, arising from the S2-S4 nerve roots to form the pelvic
nerves. These nerves enter the hypogastric sheath, and shortly join with the hypogastric
(sympathetic) nerves to form the pelvic plexus very close to the antero-lateral aspect of the
lower rectum near the anorectal junction. The pelvic plexus give rise to postganglionic fibres,
which lie, as a flat meshed band, on the lateral wall of the upper third of the vagina. These
fibres reach the bladder through the deep layer of the cervico-vesical and the vagino-vesical
ligaments. When radical hysterectomy is performed, the sacro-uterine ligament is entirely
interrupted. The recto-vaginal ligament is also interrupted according to the vaginal resection,
which in some patients with locally advanced disease may go beyond the middle third.
Doing these steps the pelvic nerves can be damaged, when the caudal part of the recto-uterine
ligament and recto-vaginal ligaments are also cut. Therefore, the interruption of the nerve
fibers posteriorly is related to the caudal depth of section of the sacro-uterine and the rectovaginal
ligaments, and not to where the line of section of these ligaments in between the
uterus and the pelvic wall. Moreover, the part of the pelvic plexus can be removed with the
paravaginal tissue surrounding the upper third of the vagina. Again, laterally to the ureter, the
cardinal ligament can be resected. When the cardinal ligament is resected medial to the
ureter, most of the pelvic plexus is preserved, whereas when it is resected laterally, most of
the pelvic plexus is damaged and the connection between the cardinal ligament and the deep
layer of cervico-vesical ligament are interrupted. According to the findings of Sislow and
Mayo, a prevalence of the sympathetic innervetion due to a complete interruption of
parasympathetic fibers and partially likely etiology. Due to the imbalance between the
parasympathetic and sympathetic innervations the damage of the nerves leads to change the
storage function of the bladder causing the retention of urine. So, nowadays, the systemic autonomic nerve preservation techniques are developing, which preserve the pelvic plexus
and the branches innervating the bladder with the help of “Nerve-Sparing Radical
Hysterectomy”. According to the study, the technique of preservation of the pelvic autonomic
nerves improved the long-term prognosis of bladder dysfunction resulting normal urinary
function within 1-year.
In conclusions, long-term urinary tract dysfunction is a frequent complication of radical
hysterectomy. Nevertheless, the clinical significance of bladder dysfunction can be greatly
reduced by appropriate postoperative bladder care.