Preservation Of Penile Length Research Articles

The Immediate Insertion of a Penile Prosthesis for Acute Ischaemic Priapism

BackgroundIschaemic priapism (IP), which is refractory to conventional medical and surgical intervention, results in necrosis of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. These patients eventually develop a variable degree of corporal smooth muscle fibrosis that presents as erectile dysfunction and penile shortening. ObjectivesTo evaluate the long-term outcome of patients who have undergone the immediate insertion of a penile prosthesis as a treatment for an acute episode of IP refractory to medical therapy or shunt surgery. Design, setting, and participantsA total of 50 patients presented with prolonged IP that was unresponsive to conventional treatment. Unsuccessful shunt surgery had been performed in 13 patients. All patients had evidence of cavernosal smooth muscle necrosis and, therefore, underwent an immediate insertion of a penile prosthesis in the acute setting. MeasurementsMean age, duration of priapism in hours, intraoperative and postoperative complications, the surgical outcome, and patients’ satisfaction were recorded. Results and limitationsA malleable penile prosthesis was inserted in 43 patients and a three-piece inflatable implant in was inserted in 7 patients; a subsequent elective exchange of a malleable to an inflatable device was performed in 6 patients.After a median follow-up of 15.7 mo (4–60 mo), 42 patients had already resumed successful sexual intercourse. Prosthesis infection occurred in three patients (6%), which was managed by explantation and delayed reinsertion.A further six patients needed revision surgery. No patient complained of penile shortening, and the overall satisfaction rate was 96%. ConclusionsThe immediate insertion of a penile prosthesis for acute refractory ischaemic priapism is a simple and successful procedure that treats the acute episode as well as the inevitable erectile dysfunction that will occur with preservation of penile length.

Surgical Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction after Dermal, Pericardial, and Small Intestinal Submucosal Grafting for Peyronie's Disease

Peyronie's disease, a localized fibrosis of the tunica albuginea surrounding the penile corpora, results in penile curvature and sexual dysfunction. Surgical management involving grafting to straighten the penis is the treatment of choice in conditions unresponsive to conservative therapy where penile length preservation is important. To determine surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction after dermal, pericardial, and small intestinal submucosal grafting for Peyronie's disease. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), postoperative self-reports, patient satisfaction, and clinical characteristics were used to measure outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed charts of 36 patients who underwent surgery for Peyronie's disease requiring grafting from 1999 to 2005. Follow-up to subjectively assess outcomes was conducted. Average patient age at surgery was 55 +/- 1 years. Body mass indexes were similar among all groups. Erectile dysfunction risk factors were comparable with 36% reporting hypertension and 22% hypercholesterolemia. Overall patient follow-up time was 673 +/- 98 days. Self-reported resolution of penile curvature was noted in 60% of dermal, 100% of Tutoplast, and 76.9% of Stratasis graft recipients. Stratasis patients maintained presurgery length (54%) and rigidity (77%) more so than dermal (30%, 60%) and Tutoplast (23%, 39%) patients. Assessment of erectile dysfunction using the IIEF-5 captured significant improvements in patients receiving Stratasis grafts (preoperative: 10.1 +/- 1.1 vs. postoperative: 17 +/- 1.6). Overall, 89% of patients reported satisfaction following surgical intervention. Surgical management of Peyronie's disease results in correction of penile curvatures and high rates of patient satisfaction. Loss of penile length and decreased rigidity occurred to a lesser degree with Stratasis grafts. While detailed informed consent is essential in this patient population, novel materials such as Tutoplast and Stratasis grafts improve outcomes following surgical correction of Peyronie's disease.

Preservation of penile length after radical prostatectomy: early intervention with a vacuum erection device

Radical prostatectomy has been shown to have a potential negative impact on penile health. Stretched penile length (SPL), which most closely correlates with erect penile length, was significantly reduced in almost half of men undergoing surgery in several studies. The purpose of this study was to test whether early intervention after surgery with a vacuum erection device could prevent the changes in penile health, as defined by SPL, found in prior studies. Forty-two men with good preoperative sexual function undergoing nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy underwent measurement of SPL preoperative and at 3 months postoperative by a single investigator. Daily use of a vacuum erection device (VED) was begun the day after catheter removal, and continued for 90 days. Men kept a log of their compliance with daily VED use. A decrease in SPL of > or = 1.0 cm was considered significant. Out of 42 men, 39 completed the study. In men who used the VED >50% of possible days, only 1/36 (3%) had a decrease in SPL of > or = 1.0 cm. Of the three men with poor VED compliance, two (67%) had a reduction in SPL of > or = 1.0 cm. When compared to prior studies where 48% of men after surgery had a significant reduction in SPL, early intervention with the daily use of a VED resulted in a significantly lower risk of loss of penile length (P<0.0001). For men wishing to preserve penile health/length after surgery, early intervention with the daily use of a VED should be strongly recommended.

IMMEDIATE SALVAGE PROCEDURE FOR INFECTED PENILE PROSTHESIS

Purpose The most devastating complication after the insertion of a penile prosthesis is the development of infection. The standard approach involves removing the entire device, treating intensively with antibiotics and attempting to reinsert a prosthesis at a later date, often with a suboptimal result. Based on the encouraging results of others, during the last 24 months we have used in 2 separate private urological practices a salvage procedure for treatment of infected inflatable penile prostheses. Materials and Methods The protocol used in 7 men with an infected inflatable penile prosthesis included removal of all device components, a 7-step vigorous intraoperative irrigation with 4 different solutions, including vancomycin, immediate reimplantation of a new inflatable penile prosthesis and postoperative outpatient antibiotics with oral ciprofloxacin or intravenous vancomycin or cefazolin. Results Of the 7 men 6 have experienced excellent results with no infection, minimal morbidity and preservation of penile length. The only failure occurred in a poorly controlled diabetic who required multiple revisions and may have had latent infection for months before it became apparent. Conclusions We believe that an immediate salvage procedure for an infected inflatable penile prosthesis is an effective treatment for this difficult complication.

Preservation of Penile Length in Penile Cancer and Trauma by Use of a Pedicled Flap

A surgical technique is described for the treatment of carcinoma and injury involving the distal penile shaft in which a standard partial penectomy would leave inadequate penile length for satisfactory voiding. As an alternative to standard total penectomy with perineal urethrostomy that is used in this situation, partial penectomy is performed and a flap of suprapubic and scrotal skin is rolled into a new proximal penile shaft covering. This technique offers the patient the advantage of voiding in the standing position with a penile stump, and the possibility for sexual satisfaction and less physical disfigurement.