Table 1. Most likely anatomic locations of nerve injuries and subsequent complications.

Area of injury	Nerves impacted	Complications from nerve injury
High ligation of inferior mesenteric artery	Hypogastric nerve (sympathetic branches), superior hypogastric plexus, inferior mesenteric plexus, preaortic plexus	Retrograde ejaculation
Sacral promontory	Hypogastric nerves (sympathetic and parasympathetic branches)	Retrograde ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, bladder dysfunction/urinary retention, low anterior resection syndrome
Posterolateral rectal dissection	Hypogastric nerves (sympathetic and parasympathetic branches), nervi erigentes	Erectile dysfunction, bladder dysfunction/urinary retention, low anterior resection syndrome
Anterolateral rectal dissection	Hypogastric nerves, inferior hypogastric plexus, pelvic plexus, periprostatic plexus	Erectile dysfunction, bladder dysfunction/urinary retention, low anterior resection syndrome