Effect of Propofol vs. Sevoflurane on Erections During Narcosis In Transurethral Surgery

Penile erection is an unwanted event in transurethral (through the urethra) surgeries, which may be associated with adverse outcomes such as impaired access, prolonged operation time, the need to abort the operation, or the necessity for ancillary measures to achieve penile flaccidity, such as the injection of certain medications directly into the penis.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the primary use of propofol instead of gaseous agents is being recommended for general anesthesia. Whether propofol may be associated with an increased or decreased rate of unwanted intraoperative penile erection compared to other anesthetic agents is not known. More generally, there are no high-quality studies available to evaluate the impact of the type of general anesthesia on the risk of unwanted penile erections during surgery.

This study aims to determine whether general anesthesia with propofol is more likely to cause intraoperative erections compared to sevoflurane during transurethral operations.