Erectile Preservation Following Radical Prostatectomy

Overview

Journal Ther Adv Urol

Publisher Sage Publications

Date 2011 Jul 27

PMID 21789097

Citations 5

Authors

Robert Segal

Arthur L Burnett

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, representing approximately 25% of all new cancer diagnoses in the USA. For clinically localized prostate cancer, the gold standard for therapy remains radical prostatectomy. One of the main adverse effects of this procedure is erectile dysfunction, which can have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. There are several mechanisms of erectile dysfunction postprostatectomy, including arteriogenic, venogenic and neurogenic types, as well as the potentially heightened risk of postprostatectomy patients to develop Peyronie's disease. The purpose of this review is to explain the various treatment options available, including phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, intracavernosal injections, intraurethral alprostadil suppositories, vacuum erection devices, and penile prostheses. The role of these therapies in an erectile-dysfunction-treatment function, as well as in penile rehabilitation, will be discussed. Finally, a review of research on novel therapies will also be presented. A comprehensive literature review was performed using the PubMed database. Articles were chosen based on topical relevance and assessed for methodology and major findings. There are data to support the use of each of the therapeutic options in both treatment and rehabilitative roles. More study is needed, however, specifically in regard to penile rehabilitation, to confirm its benefits, as well as to determine optimal rehabilitation protocols.

Citing Articles

Patient Outcomes After Penile Prosthesis Placement with Concomitant Non-Reconstructive Urologic Procedures.

Alam R, Du Comb W, Levy J, Burnett A Int Braz J Urol. 2025; 51(2).

PMID: 39913091 PMC: 11884638. DOI: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2024.0332.

Repeated Injections of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Ameliorate Erectile Dysfunction in a Cavernous Nerve Injury Rat Model.

Kim M, Jo M, Choi S, Moon H, Park J, Lee J World J Mens Health. 2024; 42(4):787-796.

PMID: 38311373 PMC: 11439812. DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.230218.

Current penile-rehabilitation strategies: Clinical evidence.

Segal R, Bivalacqua T, Burnett A Arab J Urol. 2015; 11(3):230-6.

PMID: 26558087 PMC: 4443015. DOI: 10.1016/j.aju.2013.03.005.

Suprapubic cystostomy for the management of urethral injuries during penile prosthesis implantation.

Anele U, Le B, Burnett A Sex Med. 2014; 2(4):178-81.

PMID: 25548649 PMC: 4272249. DOI: 10.1002/sm2.44.

Penile rehabilitation: the evolutionary concept in the management of erectile dysfunction.

Hakky T, Baumgarten A, Parker J, Zheng Y, Kongnyuy M, Martinez D Curr Urol Rep. 2014; 15(4):393.

PMID: 24578299 DOI: 10.1007/s11934-014-0393-6.

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