TY - JOUR T1 - PReservation of erectile function-reply AU - DEPALMA RG Y1 - 1979/02/01 N1 - 10.1001/archsurg.1979.01370260116024 JO - Archives of Surgery SP - 226 EP - 226 VL - 114 IS - 2 N2 - In Reply.—I agree with Dr Barnhouse's observations. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissections for testicular tumor entail complete mobilization of the aorta and vena cava from renal pedicles to the bifurcations. Clearing of only one of the common iliacs and ipsilateral sympathectomy may be associated with normal erectile function. This has also been the experience of my own colleagues in urology.In avoiding dissection and division of the inferior mesenteric artery, I have taken into account the extreme variability of origin of this vessel. It is frequently with a few centimeters of the aortic bifurcation. As Dr Barnhouse recognized, it is important to preserve one nerve plexus about the common iliac artery. This probably is the left one; it is important to note that both neural anatomy as well as location of the inferior mesenteric origin vary. My reason for suggesting preservation of the inferior mesenteric artery is that this step SN - 0004-0010 M3 - doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1979.01370260116024 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1979.01370260116024 ER -