Age is not a number when it comes to penile prosthesis surgery: A case series and mini literature review

Abstract

AbstractBackgoundGiven the overall aging of the population, erectile dysfunction (ED) has become an increasingly relevant issue. When elective surgery is offered, the patient's age is often noted as a potential limiting factor. The aim of this study is to investigate the safety of implanting penile prostheses (PPs) in men 90 years and older, and report the potential complications associated with this population.MethodsThe database was screened between the years 2003 and 2023 to identify patients at least 90 years and older who underwent implantation of PP by a single surgeon at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center. We collected demographic information, their anesthesia perioperative assessment, surgical procedure details, and postoperative pathway.ResultsBetween 2003 and 2023, 2000 men underwent PP surgery. Three patients were 90 years or older at the time of PP surgeries. All surgeries were performed without intraoperative or postoperative complications. Following the surgery, patients were monitored, and the patients with implantations demonstrated the ability to use the device and reported satisfaction.ConclusionThis case series demonstrates that implantation of PP is a safe and effective treatment for elderly men with ED. Maintaining a satisfactory sexual life in this age group is vital and achievable through inflatable PP insertion. There are several factors that must be considered prior to operating on an older patient. However, with proper patient selection and preoperative optimization, this operation can be effectively performed in these patients.