title: Efficacy of vacuum erectile devices (VEDs) after radical prostatectomy: the initial Irish experience of a dedicated VED clinic.
abstract: Controversy exists regarding optimal penile rehabilitation program following radical prostatectomy (RP). Vacuum erectile devices (VEDs) have become an important component of penile rehabilitation protocols. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and patient satisfaction of a dedicated VED clinic. A voluntary telephone questionnaire was performed of all patients who attended a VED clinic to date in two university teaching hospitals. Patient demographics, histopathological characteristics and functional status (International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores) were obtained from a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database. Sixty-five men attended the dedicated VED clinic in the two university teaching hospitals. Forty-men (76.3%) men purchased a VED following the dedicated clinic. There was significant differences noted between the mean preoperative and the 3-month postoperative IIEF scores (22.08±3.16 vs 11.3±3.08, P=0.0001) and between the 3-month postoperative IIEF score and the post-VED use IIEF score (11.3±3.08 vs 16.74±2.62, P=0.0001). Despite VED use, there was a significant reduction in erectile function from presurgery status (22.08±3.16 vs 16.74±2.62, P=0.0001). All patients reported that the dedicated VED was helpful and would recommend it to other patients. Our study demonstrates that, despite a reduction in erectile function after RP, successful erections are attainable with a VED. There is potential and need for the development of a standard penile rehabilitation program and treatment of ED after RP internationally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Nason
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Urology, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Twyford
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: O'Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.|Department of Urology, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Durkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Power
mesh_terms: D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014618:Vacuum