title: [Disappointing long-term experiences of patients with penile prosthesis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the long-term experience with the implantation of a penile prosthesis as a last resort treatment for erectile dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective and descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period 1986-1996, 124 men received a penile prosthesis. Basic information was obtained from medical files. Seventy-six men could be traced and were sent a questionnaire. Sixty patients and 44 partners participated in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median time since the implantation was 81.3 months (range: 13-139). The chance of reoperation was 35%. Seventeen percent of the patients and 25% of the spouses regretted the decision to have the implantation. Thirty-one percent no longer used the prosthesis and 15% had never used it. Twenty percent of the patients and 31% of the partners noticed an improvement in their sexual relationship whereas 26% and 23% respectively noticed a decline. Twenty percent of the patients sometimes failed to penetrate despite the prosthesis. Nevertheless, 66% would advise implantation to someone else. Almost 50% of the men reported spontaneous tumescence during sexual arousal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After the implantation of a penile prosthesis, the reoperation rate was high, and many patients and their partners were dissatisfied with their sexual relationship despite regaining a functional erection. Implantation requires thorough sexological counselling both before and after the operation.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Medisch Centrum St Radboud, afd. Urologie en Polikliniek Medische Seksuologie, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen. e.meuleman@uro.azn.nl
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Meuleman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deunk
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Schreuders Bais
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Rabsztyn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019935:Penile Implantation / Q000523:psychology; D015917:Penile Prosthesis / Q000523:psychology*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome