Evaluation of erectile function in patients with myocardial infarction

ABSTRACT

In this study, 120 patients with a history of myocardial infarction [MI] and admission to coronary care unit for their erectile function were prospectively evaluated using the questioner of international index for erectile function after reviewing their medical records. Patients with erectile dysfunction [ED] were seen by psychotherapist and evaluated for this problem using the office injection test, color duplex ultrasound and were offered certain choices for management using oral non-specific medication, i.e. sildenafil citrate, self-injection pharmacotherapy, vacuum constriction device and prosthesis. The patients were followed up for one year. Forty out of the 120 patients had no problem with their erection. For the 80 patients with erectile dysfunction, 5 were feared of doing sex and refuse further evaluation. All patients refused the vacuum device as well as ten patients were not on nitrite therapy and were put on sildenafil oral pills. Sixty patients were put on pharmacotherapy program using self-injection of trimix. Five patients were non-responders to pharmacotherapy using trimix and three of them had prosthesis. During one-year follow up, one patient in the oral therapy group stopped the treatment since he was put on nitrite therapy and eleven patients stopped the injection. No ECG changes could be detected in the pharmacotherapy group