(336) Penile Rehabilitation Programs after Nerve-sparing Prostatectomy: What are the Expectations of the Partners?

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Several strategies are published for postoperative erectile function rehabilitation after nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (nsRP). Expectations of the partners of the patients are rarely subject of most of these rehabilitation studies. Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate the expectations of the partners of patients undergoing nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy and penile rehabilitation programs. Methods We performed a questionnaire sent to the partners of all enrolled patients of 3 different penile rehabilitation studies after nsRP with a regular dose of different PDE5-inhibitors (sildenafil/vardenafil/tadalafil). 124 patients (mean age 69 years) had been enrolled in the rehabilitation studies and their partners (mean age 66 years) were included in this study. The survey consists of different questions, e.g. if the partners believe in the rehabilitation concept and what they expect with regards to the outcome. Results 78 partners of the 124 patients (63%) completed and returned the questionnaire. Before rehabilitation treatment 51 partners (65%) believed in the concept of rehabilitation, but only 32 partners (41%) expected partly to fully rehabilitation of erectile function of the partners caused by the initiated penile rehabilitation program. After the end of the study treatment, 2 years after nsRP, 45% of the partners are satisfied by the recovery of erectile function of their partners. Conclusions Only 41% of the partners of patients within penile rehabilitation programs expect partly to fully recovery of erectile function after nsRP. Satisfaction rate with erectile function recovery was reported by 45% of the partners 2 years after nsRP. Disclosure No