title: Landmarks in erectile function recovery after radical prostatectomy.
abstract: The description of the nerve-sparing technique of radical prostatectomy by Walsh was one of the major breakthroughs in the surgical treatment of prostate cancer in the 20(th) century. However, despite this advance and consequent technological refinements to nerve-sparing surgery, a large proportion of men still suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED) as a complication of prostatectomy. A plethora of therapeutic approaches have been proposed to optimize erectile function recovery in these patients. Several preclinical and translational studies have shown benefits of therapies including PDE5 inhibitor (PDE5I) treatment, immunomodulation, neurotrophic factor administration, and regenerative techniques, such as stem cell therapy, in animal models. However, most of these approaches have either failed to translate to clinical use or have yet to be studied in human subjects. Penile rehabilitation with PDE5Is is currently the most commonly used clinical strategy, in spite of the absence of solid clinical evidence to support its use.
authors: Laboratory for Experimental Urology, Department of Development and Regeneration, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 802, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Weyne
authors: Urological Research Institute, San Raffaele Scientific Institution, via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano, Italy.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Castiglione
authors: Laboratory for Experimental Urology, Department of Development and Regeneration, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 802, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Van der Aa
authors: The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Marburg 420, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors: Trinity J
authors: TJ
authors: Bivalacqua
authors: Laboratory for Experimental Urology, Department of Development and Regeneration, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 802, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Maarten
authors: M
authors: Albersen
mesh_terms: D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function