title: [Penile rehabilitation with vacuum erection device for erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and safety of vacuum erection device (VED) for erectile dysfunction (ED) after radical prostatectomy (RP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Six cases of ED after open RP were reviewed. Three of the patients started a daily rehabilitation protocol using VED 10 min/d within 3 months after RP (group A, early intervention), while the other 3 initiated the same protocol after 12 months (group B, late intervention). We compared the IIEF-5 scores as well as stretched penile lengths and mid-shaft circumferences before and after 3 and 6 months of VED rehabilitation. We also assessed the safety of the device and sexual satisfaction of the patients and their partners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean IIEF-5 score of the six cases was remarkably increased at 3 and 6 months of VED rehabilitation (P < 0.05), significantly higher in group A than in B at 3 months (8.7 +/- 0.6 vs 6.7 +/- 0.6, P < 0.05) and 6 months (13.0 +/- 1.0 vs 8.3 +/- 1.5, P < 0.05). After 6 months of VED rehabilitation, there were no significant changes in stretched penile length or mid-shaft circumference in group A, both significantly decreased in group B (P < 0.05), and sexual satisfaction of the patients and their partners were 83.3% and 50%, respectively. No serious adverse events were observed except mild complaint of pe- nile skin darkening in 1 case and numb feeling during the intercourse in 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early use of VED after RP improves erectile function and helps to preserve the length and mid-shaft circumference of the penis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. yijunshen@schca.org.cn
authors.forename: Yi-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ding-Wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xu-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Shi-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Hai-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014618:Vacuum