title: [Is rehabilitation of erectile function following pelvic surgery reasonable? Review of the literature: from sports to PDE5 inhibitors].
abstract: Increasingly, urologists are seeing patients with erectile dysfunction after pelvic operations. In most cases, radical prostatectomy is the cause. Even when a nerve-sparing procedure is performed, approximately 50% of the patients suffer from erectile dysfunction. This report discusses the causes and theoretical therapies, including lifestyle changes, strategies for neuroregeneration and the associated prevention of apoptosis of the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum and improvement of the corpora cavernosa by increased oxygenation. According to the international literature, many of these agents and lifestyle modifications display promise for treating impotence. Early treatment for patients recovering from pelvic operations seems to be reasonable. It is assumed that the natural recovery of erections may take as long as 18 to 24 months postsurgery or even longer; however, treatment modalities may reduce the time to erectile recovery.
authors.affiliation: Urologische Gemeinschaftspraxis Remscheid, Kooperationspraxis der Klinik für Urologie und Kinderurologie, Klinikum Wuppertal, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Fastenrathstrasse 1, Remscheid, Germany. drmathers@urologie-remscheid.de
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mathers
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klotz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vahlensieck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zellner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lümmen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huland
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010388:Pelvis / Q000601:surgery*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors