Penile rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy: what the evidence really says

BJU Int. 2013 Nov;112(7):998-1008. doi: 10.1111/bju.12228. Epub 2013 Jul 4.

Abstract

The pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy (RP) is believed to include neuropraxia, which leads to temporarily reduced oxygenation and subsequent structural changes in penile tissue. This results in veno-occlusive dysfunction, therefore, penile rehabilitation programmes focus on tissue oxygenation. Animal studies support the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) after cavernous nerve damage but results from human studies are contradictory. The largest study to date found no long-term effect of either daily or on-demand PDE5I administration after RP compared with placebo. The effects of prostaglandin and vacuum erection devices are questionable and high-quality studies are lacking. Better documentation for current penile rehabilitation and/or better rehabilitation protocols are needed. One must be careful not to repeat the statement that penile rehabilitation improves erectile function after RP so many times that it becomes a truth even without the proper scientific backing.

Keywords: erectile dysfunction; penile rehabilitation; prostate cancer; radical prostatectomy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alprostadil / administration & dosage
  • Animals
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Erectile Dysfunction / etiology*
  • Erectile Dysfunction / physiopathology
  • Erectile Dysfunction / rehabilitation*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Penile Erection*
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Prostatectomy / adverse effects*
  • Prostatectomy / rehabilitation*
  • Psychotherapeutic Processes
  • Vacuum

Substances

  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
  • Alprostadil