Skip to main content

Management of Erectile Dysfunction After Radical Prostatectomy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 1954 Accesses

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common sequelae after radical prostatectomy for organ-confined prostate cancer. Despite nerve-sparing techniques, surgical neurovascular injury occurs and subsequent cessation of erections leads to significant cavernosal hypoxia with attendant microstructural consequences and severe impairment of erectile function (EF). Pharmacological strategies for rehabilitation of natural EF using on demand or daily phosphodiesterase type 5-inhibitors (PDE5i) have not proven to positively impact the return of unassisted EF in randomized controlled trials.

However, treatment-options for ED are available including oral, intracavernosal, or intraurethral therapy, vacuum devices, and ultimately penile implant surgery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Tal R, Alphs HH, Krebs P, Nelson CJ, Mulhall JP. Erectile function recovery rate after radical prostatectomy: a meta-analysis. J Sex Med. 2009;6:2538–46.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Walsh PC, Donker PJ. Impotence following radical prostatectomy: insight into etiology and prevention. J Urol. 1982;128:492–97.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Breza J, Aboseif SE, Orvis BR, Lue TF, Tanago EA. Detailed anatomy of penile neurovascular structures: surgical significance. J Urol. 1989;141:437–43.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Quinlan DM, Epstein JL, Carter BS, Walsh PC. Sexual function following radical prostatectomy: influence of preservation of neurovascular bundles. J Urol. 1991;145:998–1002.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ficarra V, Novara G, Ahlering TE, Costello A, Eastham JA, Graefen M, Guazzoni G, Menon M, Mottrie A, Patel VR, Van der Poel H, Rosen RC, Tewari AK, Wilson TG, Zattoni F, Montorsi F. Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting potency rates after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Eur Urol. 2012;62:418–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hatzimouratidis K, Burnett AL, Hatzichristou D, McCullough AR, Montorsi F, Mullhall JP. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction: a critical analysis of the basic science rationale and clinical application. Eur Urol. 2009;55:334–47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. User HM, Zelner DJ, McKenna KE, McVary KT. J Urol. 2003;170:298–301.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Calenda G, Strong TD, Pavlovich CP, Schaeffer EM, Burnett AL, Yu W, Davies KP, Bivalacqua TJ. Whole genome microarray of the major pelvic ganglion after cavernous nerve injury: new insights. BJU Int. 2012;109:1552–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Schwartz EJ, Wong P, Graydon RJ. Sildenafil protects intracorporal smooth muscle after radical retropubic prostatectomy. J Urol. 2004;171:771–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Klein LT, Miller MI, Buttyan R, Raffo AJ, et al. Apoptosis in the rat penis after denervation. J Urol. 1997;158:626–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. User HM, Hairston JH, Zelner DJ, McKenna KE, et al. Penile weight and cell subtype specific changes in a post-radical prostatectomy model of erectile dysfunction. J Urol. 2003;169:1175–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Iacono F, Gianella R, Somma P, Manno G, et al. Histologic alterations in cavernous tissue after radical prostatectomy. J Urol. 2005;173:1673–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Leungwattanakij S, Bivalacqua TJ, Usta MF, Yang DY, et al. Cavernous neurotomy causes hypoxia and fibrosisin rat corpus cavernosum. J Androl. 2003;24:239–45.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Özden E, Öztürk B, Kosan M, Tezel GG, et al. Effect of sildenafil citrate on penile weight and physiology of cavernous smooth muscle in a post-radical prostatectomy model of erectile dysfunction in rats. Urology. 2011;77:761.e1–761.e7

    Google Scholar 

  15. Aboseif S, Shinohara K, Breza J, Benard F, et al. Role of penile vascular injury in erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy. Br J Urol. 1994;73:75–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Munding MD, Wessells HB, Dalkin BL. Pilot study of changes in stretched penile length 3 months after radical prostatectomy. Urology. 2001;58:567–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Savoie M, Kim SS, Soloway M. A prospective study measuring penile length in men treated by radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. J Urol. 2003;169:162–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Montorsi F, Guazzoni G, Strambi LF, Da Pozzo LF, et al. Recovery of spontaneous erectile function after nerve-sparing radical reteropubic prostatectomy with and without early intracavernous injections of alprostadil: results of a prospective randomized trial. J Urol. 1997;158:1408–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Mulhall JP, Bivalacqua TJ, Becher EF. Standard operating procedure for the preservation of erectile function outcomes after radical prostatectomy. J Sex Med. 2013;10:195–203.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Padma-Nathan H, McCullough AR, Levine LA, Lipshultz LI, et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of postoperative nightly sildenafil citrate for the prevention of erectile dysfunction after bilateral nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy. Int J Impot Res. 2008;20:479–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Montorsi F, Brock G, Lee J, Shapiro J, et al. Effect of nightly versus on-demand vardenafil on recovery of erectile function in men following bilateral nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy. Eur Urol. 2008;54:924–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Wrishko R, Sorsaburo S, Wong D, Strawbridge A, et al. Safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetic overview of low-dose daily administration of tadalafil. J Sex Med. 2009;6:2039–48.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Montorsi F, Brock G, Stolzenburg JU, Mulhall J, et al. Effects of tadalafil treatment on erectile function recovery following bilateral nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy: a randomised placebo-controlled study (REACTT). Eur Urol. 2014;65:587–96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Castiglione F, Nini A, Briganti A. Penile rehabilitation with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors after nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy: are we targeting the right patients? Eur Urol. 2014;65:663–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Kilminster S, Müller S, Menon M, Joseph JV, et al. Predicting erectile function outcome in men after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. BJU Int. 2011;110:422–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Berookhim BM, Nelson CJ, Kunzel B, Mulhall JP, et al. A Prospective analysis of penile length changes following radical prostatectomy. BJU Int. 2013. doi:10.1111/bju.12443 BJU Int. 2014;113:E131–6.

  27. Rabbani F, Schiff J, Piecuch M, et al. Time course of recovery of erectile function after radical retropubic prostatectomy: does anyone recover after 2 years? J Sex Med. 2010;7:3984–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Smith 2nd WB, McCaslin IR, Gokce A, Mandava SH, et al. PDE5 inhibitors: considerations for preference and long-term adherence. Int J Clin Pract. 2013;67:768–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Katz D, Bennett NE, Stasi J, Eastham JA, et al. Chronology of erectile function in patients with early functional erections following radical prostatectomy. J Sex Med. 2010;7:803–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Raina R, Lakin MM, Agarwal A, Sharma A, et al. Long-term effect of sildenafil citrate on erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy: 3-year follow-up. Urology. 2003;62:110–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Montorsi F, McCullough A. Efficacy of sildenafil citrate in men with erectile dysfunction following radical prostatectomy: a systematic review of clinical data. J Sex Med. 2005;2:658–67.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Coombs PG, Heck M, Guhring P, Narus J, et al. A review of outcomes of an intracavernosal injection therapy programme. BJU Int. 2012;110:1787–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Baniel J, Israilov S, Segenreich E, Livne PM. Comparative evaluation of treatments for erectile dysfunction in patients with prostate cancer after radical retropubic prostatectomy. BJU Int. 2001;88:58–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Zippe C, Nandipati K, Agarwal A, Raina R. Sexual dysfunction after pelvic surgery. Int J Impot Res. 2006;18:1–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Köhler TS, Pedro R, Hendlin K, Utz W, et al. A pilot study on the early use of the vacuum erection device after radical retropubic prostatectomy. BJU Int. 2007;100:858–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Costabile RA, Spevak M, Fishman IJ, Govier FE, et al. Efficacy and safety of transurethral alprostadil in patients with erectile dysfunction following radical prostatectomy. J Urol. 1998;160:1325–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Ramsawh HJ, Morgentaler A, Covino N, Barlow DH, et al. Quality of life following simultaneous placement of penile prosthesis with radical prostatectomy. J Urol. 2005;174:1395–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hartwig Büttner MD, FECSM .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mulhall, J.P., Donatucci, C.F., Chiles, K.A., Büttner, H. (2015). Management of Erectile Dysfunction After Radical Prostatectomy. In: Patel, H., Mould, T., Joseph, J., Delaney, C. (eds) Pelvic Cancer Surgery. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4258-4_22

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4258-4_22

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4257-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4258-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics