Five years' experience with the Silicone-Silver Penile Prosthesis: Improvements and new developments

Summary

Five years' experience using the Standard Version (SV) of the Silicone-Silver Penile Prosthesis is reported, based on evaluation of 1890 implantations done by 309 physicians. In 72.4% the indication was diabetes mellitus, vascular disease or postpelvic surgery; 81.2% of the patients were between 40 and 69 years of age. Early complications occurred in 5.1%, late complications in 2.8%. Of 1834 implantations, 19 (=1.04%) of the devices had to be removed. The overall success rate was 92.1%. To improve availability and lower costs, the Variable Version (VV) was designed, a device which can be trimmed down to appropriate size during surgery. Preparation of the prosthesis is described. The most recent modification is the Trimming-Tip Version (TTV). As the proximal end of this device can be shortened up to 3 cm, two pairs of prostheses per diameter (total: 4 pairs) are sufficient to fulfill all length requirements from 16 to 25 cm. Two further features of the TTV are: a conic distal end and a bulk diameter of 11 or 13 mm, both of which improve placement within the corpus and the cosmetic results.