Prospective and long-term evaluation of erect penile length obtained with inflatable penile prosthesis to that induced by intracavernosal injection

We compared erect penile length after inflatable penile prosthesis （IPP） implantation with that induced by intracavemosal injection （ICI） before surgery. A total of 11 patients with full erections induced by ICI of 0.25 mL of Trimix （papaverine, phentolamine and prostaglandin E 1） at the time of penile color duplex Doppler ultrasonograpby were enrolled in this study. The patients subsequently underwent IPP implantation as the ultimate treatment for their erectile dysfunction （ED）. Erect penile length consequent to IPP implantation was measured at 6 weeks, 6 months and at I year after surgery. The Sexual Health Inventory for Men （SHIM） was administered before, and at 6 months and 1 year after IPP implantation. Erect penile length （mean ± s.c.） as induced by ICI was 13.2 ± 0.4 cm, whereas the lengths attained with IPP were 12.4 ± 0.3, 12.5 ± 0.3 and 12.5 ± 0.4 cm at the sixth week, sixth month and 1-year follow-ups, respectively. There were 0.83 ± 0.25, 0.75 ± 0.20 and 0.74 ± 0.15 cm decreases in erect penile length at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year, respectively, after IPP implantation when compared with that after ICI （P 〈 0.05）. The SHIM scores for patients reporting shorter penises were the same as those for patients without complaints at the 6-month and 1-year follow-ups （P 〉 0.05）. To our knowledge, this is the first study to objectively show a significant decrease in erect penile length after IPP implantation when compared with that after ICI. However, this decrease did not affect the effectiveness of IPP in treating ED.

Long-term treatment with intracavernosal injections in diabetic men with erectile dysfunction

Aim： To assess the behavior of patients with diabetes mellitus （DM） and erectile dysfunction （ED） during 10 consecutive years of treatment with self-injection of vasoactive drugs. Methods： Thirty-eight diabetic men, including 12 with type Ⅰ and 26 with type Ⅱ diabetes, were followed up regularly for 10 years after they began self-injecting for severe ED. Real time rigidity assessment was used for the objective determination of the initial dosage and then doses were regulated in order to introduce an erection suitable for penetration and maintenance of erection for approximately 30 min. Patients were followed up every two months, and doses were increased only when the treatment response was not satisfactory. Results： The number of injections used per year by the patients was reduced each year （mean numbers： 50 in the first year and 22.5 in the 10th） and treatment shifted towards stronger therapeutic modalities （mixtures of vasoactive drugs instead of prostaglandin E1 alone）. Type Ⅰ diabetic men were standardized to a level of treatment as early as 5 years after the initiation of treatment. That level was finally reached by type Ⅱ patients after another 4-5 years. Conclusion： Treatment with self-injections of vasoactive drugs in diabetic men with severe El） is a safe and effective alternative in the long term. Diabetic men of both types show the same preferences in quality and quantity of treatment after 10 years. The key point for maintenance in treatment is the adjustment of the therapeutic method and dosage to optimal levels for satisfactory erections. （Asian J Androl 2006 Mar; 8： 219-224）