P-02-27 Vardenafil on a Daily Base for Rehabilitation of Erectile Function after Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy - Is It a Matter of the Dose in the Longer Follow-Up of 2 Years?

Abstract

Several treatment regimens for rehabilitation of erectile function (EF) after nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (nsRP) are currently performed. In previous studies it was shown that using daily low dose PDE-5 inhibitors after nsRP leads to an improvement of EF. But the “optimal” regimen and dosage for rehabilitation programs is still unknown. 36 sexual active patients underwent unilateral nsRP. All patients completed an IIEF-5 questionnaire concerning EF preoperatively. Group 1 (n=12 patients) received vardenafil 5mg/d versus group 2 (n=12) who received vardenafil 10mg/d at night beginning the day of catheter removal. A control of 12 patients underwent follow up without PDE-5-inhibitors. IIEF-5 questionnaire was performed 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after operation. In the group of daily 5mg vardenafil (group 1) the IIEF-5 score decreased from preoperative 22.4 mean score to 4.2 at 3 months, 8.9 at 6 months, 13.4 at 12 months, 15.2 at 18 months and 18.3 mean score at 24 months after nsRP versus preoperative 22.8, 4.1 at 3 months, 7.9 at 6 months, 12.8 at 12 months, 14.9 at 18 months and 18.4 mean score at 24 months in group 2 (10mg/d vardenafil). In the control group preoperative IIEF-5 mean score 21.9 decreased to 3.8 at 3 months, 6.1 at 6 months, 8.9 at 12 months, 10.2 at 18 months and 11.3 at 24 months. Statistical evaluation showed significant difference in IIEF-5 score and time to recovery of EF between the groups 1 and 3 and between groups 2 and 3 (p< 0.05). No statistical differences were found between the groups 1 and 2.