The incidence rate of erectile dysfunction (ED) is reportedly as high as 30-90% after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, which seriously affects the patients' quality of life. Penile rehabilitation is defined as the use of any drug or device at or after radical prostatectomy to maximize erectile function recovery.
A variety of treatment options are available for post-prostatectomy ED patients, including oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5I) , intracorporal injections, vacuum erection device, and penile prosthesis. This article presents an overview of the currently used methods for the drug treatment and penile rehabilitation of the ED patients after radical prostatectomy. It seems proper to recommend daily use of a vacuum erection device plus oral PDE5I in the early postoperative period. For those who fail to respond to this therapy, intraurethral alprostadil, intracorporal injections, or a penile prosthesis could be considered.
Zhonghua nan ke xue = National journal of andrology. 2015 Jun [Epub]
Qiang Dong, De-yi Luo, Hao Zeng