title: Erectile function rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy: practice patterns among AUA members.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite a growing body of evidence supporting erectile function (EF) rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy (RP), there are no guidelines on this subject.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore EF rehabilitation practice patterns of American Urological Association (AUA) urologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 35-question instrument was constructed assessing physician demographics, training, and EF rehabilitation practices after RP, and was e-mailed to AUA members by the AUA Office of Education. Data were acquired by the AUA and analyzed by the investigators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentage of responders who recommend EF rehabilitation practices following RP, characterization of prevalent rehabilitation practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 618 urologists who completed the survey, 71% were in private practice, 28% considered themselves as sexual medicine specialists, although only 4% were fellowship-trained, 43% were urologic oncology specialists (14% fellowship-trained), 86% performed RP, and 86% of responders recommended rehabilitation practices. Being a sexual medicine or a urologic oncology specialist was not predictive of rehabilitation employment. Forty-three percent rehabilitate all patients, 57% only selected patients. Selection for rehabilitation was dependent upon preop EF by 66%, nerve-sparing status by 22%, and age by 5%. Eleven percent started rehab immediately after RP, 97% within 4 months. 24%, 45% and 18% ceased rehab at <12, 12-18, and 18-24 months, respectively. Eighty-nine percent of RP surgeons performed rehabilitation vs. only 66% who do not perform RP (P < 0.0001). Eighty-seven percent prefer phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) as their primary strategy followed (in order) by vacuum erection device (VED), intracavernosal injection (ICI), and urethral suppositories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the respondents, penile rehabilitation is a common practice. Urologic oncologists and RP surgeons are more likely to use rehabilitation practices. The most commonly employed strategy is regular PDE5i use for 12-18 months after RP. .
authors.affiliation: Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program, Urology Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Raanan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tal
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Teloken
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mulhall
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011364:Professional Practice; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014572:Urology
chemical_list: D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors