Low intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy improved the resistance index of cavernosal artery in venous occlusive erectile dysfunction

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Veno-occlusive dysfunction has become a recognized cause of organic impotence. No effective management can improve venous occlusion. Although Low intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (LiESWT) has been an effective treatment for arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) for years, we still did not know the effects for venous occlusive function. Objective This study aimed to measure the change of resistance index of cavernosal artery in patients with venous occlusive ED after LiESWT. Methods Totally 65 patients with ED were enrolled in our study. LiESWT with one treatment session per week for six consecutive weeks were introduced to our patients and then we recorded patient's resistance index (RI) before and after the LiESWT with penile doppler ultrasound. Results The RI (Mean±SEM) did not increase significantly after LiESWT (0.85±0.01 vs 0.86±0.01, p=0.395). However, those patients with pre-LiESWT RI lower than 0.85 who were more likely to have veno-occlusive ED showed significant increase of RI after the LiESWT in comparison to those with pre LiESWT RI higher than 0.85 (% Change of RI after LiESWT: 4.34±1.47 vs before LiESWT: -0.89±0.99, p<0.05). Conclusions Most of the previous studies focus the effect of LiESWT on PSV and erectile function score which was thought to be the major parameter of erectile function especially in arteriogenic ED. However, RI as an important parameter which indicated the venous leakage problem in ED also improved after the LiESWT in people with low RI. Our result shows the potential of LiESWT in repairing the tissue and decreasing the venous leakage in patients with venous occlusive ED. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no.