Erectile Dysfunction and Penile Prostheses (Implants)

Surgery is an option when other efforts to address the erectile dysfunction have not been successful.

Implants are one surgical option that can help treat erectile dysfunction.

Vascular Reconstruction is another form of surgical intervention.

Read more details about Penile Prostheses (Implants).

Semirigid/Malleable

This prosthesis (implant) consists of one or two bendable rods that are inserted into the penis. Once installed and healed, the penis and the prosthesis can be bent into position—upward for intercourse or downward for clothing and urination.

Inflatable

There are three pieces to this device:

• A balloon-like cylinder that fits into the penis
• A pump that is placed into the scrotum
• A reservoir of liquid that is placed nearby, inside the pelvis

The penis is normally limp until the pump is repeatedly squeezed, filling the balloon from the reservoir. After intercourse, the balloon in the penis can be deflated.

Description of the Procedure: Under general or regional anesthesia, and in sterile conditions in an operating room, the doctor will make an incision between your penis and scrotum and insert the device. Additional incisions may be made to insert the accessory parts in their proper positions.

If circulation is reduced to the penis due to vascular disease (usually following a traumatic injury to the penis), reconstruction of the arteries may restore erectile function. This is complex surgery which is performed only in a few hospitals in the US. Occasionally, in these rare cases, angiographic techniques can be successful at repairing the vascular defect, avoiding the need to consider surgical reconstruction.

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National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/ .

National Library of Medicine website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ .

Sivalingam S, Hashim H, Schwaibold H. An overview of the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. Drugs . 2006;66:2339-2355.

Surgical Management of Erectile Dysfunction. American Urological Association website. Available at: http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=11&topic=128 . Accessed August 8, 2010.

Webber R. Erectile dysfunction. Clinical Evidence . 2005;13:1120-1127.