title: Management of post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction.
abstract: The management of post-prostatectomy erectile function has been debated since the nerve sparing radical prostatectomy was first introduced. A number of penile rehabilitation protocols have been proposed with varying degrees of success and patient satisfaction. My management of post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction has evolved based on an honest and critical appraisal of the literature and my own experience and research. A review of major studies published on the topic of post-prostatectomy penile rehabilitation is included here, in addition to a critical evaluation of my own clinical practice. After evaluating the efficacy of these various approaches, it is clear to me that a nerve sparing procedure is only one of many factors involved in recovering erectile function. Moreover, in addition to assessing a patient's goals and their motivation for erectile function after prostatectomy, setting appropriate patient expectations is paramount to avoiding patient frustration. A frank evaluation and discussion with a patient and their partner is paramount to managing these expectations. A "one size fits all" approach is not appropriate. Herein, I discuss the evolution of my approach to managing post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jamal
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Engel
mesh_terms: D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome