Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LIESWT) of the penis has recently emerged as a promising modality in the treatment of ED.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper is to assess the effectiveness and safety of LIESWT on patients with ED who have failed to respond to PDE5i treatment.
METHODS: Open label, prospective, longitudinal observational study. The study involved an uncontrolled population of 25 patients. The treatment consisted in applying 20,000 shock waves during a period of four weeks. In each session the patient received 5000 shock waves of 0.09 mJ/mm2: 1800 were applied on the penis (900 on each corpus cavernosum), and 3200 were applied on the perineum (1600 on each crus). During the active treatment and follow-up phases, all patients remained on their regular high on demand or once-a-day dose PDE5i schedules.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Effectiveness was assessed by IIEF-6, SEP2, SEP3 and GAQ. Patients were considered to be responders whenever they improved on all three erection assessment parameters and respond positively to the GAQ at three months post-treatment. Adverse events were recorded. Statistical variables were applied and findings were considered to be statistically significant whenever the P value was < 0.05.
RESULTS: Eighty percent (median age 63) of the patients (20/25) completed the study. Five patients were lost to follow-up and were excluded from the analysis. Sixty percent (60%) of the patients responded to the treatment, improved the 3 efficacy evaluating parameters and responded positively to the GAQ. The increase in mean IIEF-6 score was of 9 points after the third post-treatment month. There were no patients reporting treatment-related adverse events.
CONCLUSIONS: LIESWT for men with ED and that are PDE5i non-responders was safe and effective and restoring PDE5i response in more than 50% of patients.A large-scale multicenter study is required to determine the benefits of this treatment for ED.
Written by:
Bechara A, Casabé A, De Bonis W, Nazar J. Are you the author?
Jefe de Unidad de la División Urología del Hospital Durand, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Profesor de Urología de la UBA. Co-Director Médico del Instituto Médico Especializado (IME); Encargado del Sector Medicina Sexual de la División Urología del Hospital Durand. Co-Director Médico del IME Buenos Aires, Argentina; Urólogo de la División Urología del Hospital Durand y del IME. Buenos Aires, Argentina; Urólogo de la División Urología del Hospital Durand, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Reference: Arch Esp Urol. 2015 Mar;68(2):152-160.
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25774822
Article in English, Spanish.