Intravesical reservoir erosion as a late complication of a 3-piece inflatable penile prosthesis: ectopic placement in a high-subrectus space: a rare case report

Abstract

Background: Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is the mainstream treatment of refractory erectile dysfunction (ED). Usually, Space of Retzius (SOR) is the usual IPP reservoir placement space, however, more concerns regarding this space complication have emerged due to its anatomical proximity to some major structures. Intravesical reservoir erosion is the most common reported reservoir complication. Hematuria is the main presentation, sometimes, dysuria and urinary tract infection take place. We present a case of late intravesical reservoir erosion after 3 years of IPP implantation. Methods: Revision surgery was made including placement of AMS Conceal® reservoir in an ectopic high-subrectus space and anterior to transversalis fascia, contralaterally. Results: Recently, ectopic placement has gained popularity among implanters due to its safety and efficacy. Specifically, submuscular space placement, after inventing the lock-out valve to avoid undesirable auto-inflation due to the high back-pressure. Conclusion: Ectopic placement utilizes more choices in cases like hostile pelvis for implanting a 3-piece IPP instead of a malleable prosthesis. Ectopic placement is safe and highly acceptable between high-volume implanters, which may prime a new era of reservoir placement.