Penile prosthesis implantation and infection for Sexual Medicine Society of North America.

Abstract

Penile prosthetics have developed over the past three decades into an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction with high reliability and patient satisfaction rates. The morbidity of these devices is principally limited to mechanical malfunction and the most feared complication of prostheses infection. Most penile prosthesis infections are caused by gram positive skin contaminations such as Staphylococci. The signs and symptoms of these infections may be difficult to identify in early stages, but late infections may lead to tissue loss and poor prognosis for prosthesis replacement. Treatment of penile prosthesis infections is best carried out with a salvage technique including aggressive lavage and prosthesis replacement. The success of this technique is salvage of prosthesis and return to function in more than 80% of cases. While penile prosthesis infection continues to be a dreaded complication, early diagnosis and aggressive surgical treatment may salvage the majority of these implants.