Diagnostic evaluation of erectile dysfunction in the era of oral therapy.

Therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED) may be specific to the cause of ED or it may be nonspecific. There are only three causes of ED which have specific therapy: psychogenic, endocrine and certain types of reversible vasculogenic ED. In the era of oral therapy for ED, treatment is not cause-specific in the great majority of patients. For this great majority, only the basic evaluation of ED is needed. Only when there is a strong suspicion that the cause of a patient's ED is endocrine, psychogenic or reversible vascular disease are additional diagnostic tests indicated. In these three categories of patients, specific treatment of the cause of ED can produce a permanent and dramatic improvement in sexual function and satisfaction. International Journal of Impotence Research (2000) 12, Suppl 4, S12-S14.

Diagnosing erectile dysfunction.

More than 50% of patients who have erectile dysfunction (ED) fit a standard medical and demographic profile: They are at least 50 years old, usually married or in a long-term, monogamous relationship, and they have been troubled by progressive erectile impairment for at least a year. Clinical evaluation of such patients is relatively straightforward: a 3-part history, physical examination, and basic laboratory tests. This article outlines a practical approach to such an evaluation, offers guidelines for evaluating patients who do not fit this profile, and delineates situations in which referral to a specialist may be indicated.

Evaluation and nonsurgical management of erectile dysfunction.

The addition of oral drugs to the armamentarium of therapies for erectile dysfunction promises to dramatically increase the number of men seeking treatment for this condition. It is important to have a rational approach to the diagnostic evaluation of erectile dysfunction and to tailor the evaluation to each patient's goals for his sexual function. It is important also to offer each patient the full array of therapeutic options for erectile dysfunction. This article reviews the outpatient diagnostic work-up and current treatment possibilities for erectile dysfunction. The article also discusses clinical research experience with new forms or oral and topical therapies now being developed for future treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Does natural erectile function improve following intracavernous injections of vasoactive drugs?

Improvement in natural erections has been reported in approximately 9% of impotent men using intracavernous injections of vasoactive drugs for erection induction. The mechanisms which may account for this improvement are psychogenic, improved cavernous hemodynamics, prostaglandin-induced angiogenesis, improved cavernous oxygenation, cavernous smooth muscle hypertrophy and/or normal episodic fluctuations in erectile function. A review of the basic science literature on this subject reveals several theoretical explanations for this phenomenon but a review of the clinical literature reveals little convincing evidence that physiologic and/or pharmacologic factors are responsible for improvement in natural erections with intracavernous injection therapy. Furthermore, the prevalence of a placebo effect from impotence therapy exceeds the reported rate of improvement in natural or spontaneous erections. The most plausible explanations for spontaneous improvement in erections during or after intracavernous injection therapy are psychogenic and episodic variations in erectile function, rather than physiologic or pharmacologic factors. However, intracavernous injection therapy started soon after radical prostatectomy may have a protective effect in preserving normal cavernous physiology and erectile function in men being treated for prostate cancer.

Clinical guidelines panel on erectile dysfunction: summary report on the treatment of organic erectile dysfunction. The American Urological Association.

PURPOSE: The American Urological Association convened the Clinical Guidelines Panel on Erectile Dysfunction to analyze the literature regarding available methods for treating organic erectile dysfunction and to make practice recommendations based on the treatment outcomes data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The panel searched the MEDLINE data base for all articles from 1979 through 1994 on treatment of organic erectile dysfunction and meta-analyzed outcomes data for oral drug therapy (yohimbine), vacuum constriction devices, vasoactive drug injection therapy, penile prosthesis implantation and venous and arterial surgery. RESULTS: Estimated probabilities of desirable outcomes are relatively high for vacuum constriction devices, vasoactive drug injection therapy and penile prosthesis therapy. However, patients must be aware of potential complications. The outcomes data for yohimbine clearly indicate a therapy with marginal efficacy. For venous and arterial surgery, based on reported outcomes, chances of success do not appear high enough to justify routine use of such surgery. CONCLUSIONS: For the standard patient, defined as a man with acquired organic erectile dysfunction and no evidence of hypogonadism or hyperprolactinemia, the panel recommends 3 treatment alternatives: vacuum constriction devices, vasoactive drug injection therapy and penile prosthesis implantation. Based on the data to date, yohimbine does not appear to be effective for organic erectile dysfunction and, thus, it should not be recommended as treatment for the standard patient. Venous surgery and arterial surgery in men with arteriolosclerotic disease are considered investigational and should be performed only in a research setting with long-term followup available.

What is the best pregnancy rate that may be expected from vasectomy reversal?

Pregnancy rates after vasectomy reversal vary among different reporting surgeons. To study those patients who are most likely to achieve pregnancy after vasectomy reversal, and to eliminate the effect of variations in surgical technique and operative findings on surgical outcome, the pregnancy rate after vasectomy reversal was calculated in men who achieved completely and consistently normal postoperative semen analyses (sperm concentration 20 x 10(6)/ml. or more and sperm motility 50% or greater). Of 95 patients who met the study criteria 58 (61.1%) achieved pregnancy and 37 (30.9%) did not. Including an allowance for some patients who will achieve pregnancy beyond the study-followup, it is concluded that the maximum pregnancy probability for vasectomy reversal is approximately 67%. Failure to achieve pregnancy in approximately a third of the patients may be explained by partner infertility, epididymal dysfunction and sperm antibodies. Studies that report pregnancy chances in excess of two-thirds must have different patient demographics and/or different methods of statistical analysis.

PIP: A urologist at the California-Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco studies 95 vasectomy reversal patients who either had a normal semen analysis during any 12 consecutive months after vasectomy reversal or within 3 months of achieving conception to determine their pregnancy rate. The urologist had performed the vasectomy reversal in all 95 cases between 1977 and 1989. This would minimize the effect of variations in surgical technique and operative findings on surgical outcome. The mean interval between vasectomy and reversal was 7.6 years. The spouse of 58 patients (61.1%) became pregnant. The average interval between vasectomy reversal and conception was 8.5 months. The average sperm count stood at 60.4 million/ml. Average sperm motility stood at 65.5%. Another study showed that the longterm pregnancy rate would be about 9% greater than the pregnancy rate at 12 months of normal semen analysis, which would place the San Francisco study's expected longterm pregnancy rate at 66.6% (i.e., 61.1% + 5.5% [9% of 61.1%]). Partner infertility, epididymal dysfunction, sperm antibodies, and other unknown factors may account for the 30.9% failure rate. Different patient demographics, and/or different methods of statistical analysis may account for studies with pregnancy rates greater than 66%.

Results of 1,469 microsurgical vasectomy reversals by the Vasovasostomy Study Group.

PIP: During a 9-year period, 1469 men who underwent microsurgical vasectomy reversal procedures were studied at five institutions. Of 1247 men who had first-time procedures, sperm were present in the semen in 865 of 1012 men (86%) who had postoperative semen analyses, and pregnancy occurred in 421 of 810 couples (52%) for whom information regarding conception was available. Rates of patency (return of sperm to the semen) and pregnancy varied depending on the time interval between the vasectomy and its reversal. If the interval was shorter than 3 years, the patency rate was 97% and the pregnancy rate was 76%; for intervals of 3 to 8 years the rates were 88% and 53%; for 9 to 14 years, 79% and 44%; and for 15 years or more, 71% and 30%. The patency and pregnancy rates were no better after 2-layer microsurgical vasovasostomy than after modified 1-layer microsurgical procedures, and they were statistically the same for all patients regardless of the surgeon. When sperm was absent from the intraoperative vas fluid bilaterally and the patient underwent bilateral vasovasostomy rather than vasoepididymostomy, patency occurred in 50 of 83 patients (60%) and pregnancy in 20 of 65 couples (31%). Neither presence nor absence of a sperm granuloma at the vasectomy site nor type of anesthesia affected results. Repeat microsurgical reversal procedures were less successful. A total of 222 repeat operations produced patency in 150 of 199 patients (75%) who had semen analyses, and pregnancy was reported in 52 of 120 couples (43%).^ieng

Results of 1,469 microsurgical vasectomy reversals by the Vasovasostomy Study Group.

During a 9-year period 1,469 men who underwent microsurgical vasectomy reversal procedures were studied at 5 institutions. Of 1,247 men who had first-time procedures sperm were present in the semen in 865 of 1,012 men (86%) who had postoperative semen analyses, and pregnancy occurred in 421 of 810 couples (52%) for whom information regarding conception was available. Rates of patency (return of sperm to the semen) and pregnancy varied depending on the interval from the vasectomy until its reversal. If the interval had been less than 3 years patency was 97% and pregnancy 76%, 3 to 8 years 88% and 53%, 9 to 14 years 79% and 44% and 15 years or more 71% and 30%. The patency and pregnancy rates were no better after 2-layer microsurgical vasovasostomy than after modified 1-layer microsurgical procedures and they were statistically the same for all patients regardless of the surgeon. When sperm were absent from the intraoperative vas fluid bilaterally and the patient underwent bilateral vasovasostomy rather than vasoepididymostomy, patency occurred in 50 of 83 patients (60%) and pregnancy in 20 of 65 couples (31%). Neither presence nor absence of a sperm granuloma at the vasectomy site nor type of anesthesia affected results. Repeat microsurgical reversal procedures were less successful. A total of 222 repeat operations produced patency in 150 of 199 patients (75%) who had semen analyses and pregnancy was reported in 52 of 120 couples (43%).

The role of vascular surgery in arteriogenic and combined arteriogenic and venogenic impotence.

Currently, the only procedure that may be ready for clinical application in arteriogenic impotence is the retrograde revascularization operation for patients who have been shown to have localized obstruction of the internal pudendal artery. This applies almost exclusively to young healthy men with impotence due to pelvic trauma. The concept that perineal trauma causes localized obstruction of the penile artery is controversial. Because the best candidates for penile revascularization are young healthy men with localized, rather than diffuse, arterial pathology and with the absence of vascular risk factors, the overall role for treatment of arteriogenic or combined arteriogenic and venogenic impotence by penile revascularization is very limited. For patients with impotence following pelvic and possibly perineal trauma, as well as occasional patients with arteriosclerosis who wish to be considered for penile revascularization, evaluation should begin with screening intracavernous pharmacodiagnosis using papaverine with or without phentolamine, or prostaglandin E1. If a poor response occurs, identification of venous pathophysiology by cavernosometry and identification of arterial pathophysiology by dynamic infusion cavernosometry and/or duplex sonography of the corpus cavernosum should be undertaken. If there is no venous pathology, penile arteriography must be done to design an anatomically rational revascularization operation. In the future, improved results of penile vascular surgery may occur if we can develop a clearer understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of erection, improved diagnostic techniques, and a better selection of surgical candidates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Surgery of scrotal contents.

Almost every scrotal operation may be done with local anesthesia. Occasionally general anesthesia may be elected, but the basic orientation to scrotal surgery should be with local anesthesia as long as the operation can be completed within 3 hours. The only scrotal operation for which I routinely elect general anesthesia is bilateral vasoepididymostomy because this is the only scrotal procedure that takes over 3 hours. Very rarely a scrotal hernia or a huge hydrocele obscures the cord, preventing administration of local anesthesia. Aside from these rare exceptions, I perform all scrotal surgery with local anesthesia. The use of preoperative sedation makes it possible for all patients to tolerate the small amount of discomfort associated with injection of a local anesthesic. Once the anesthetic is injected, scrotal surgery is painless. Regardless of the choice of local or general anesthesia, virtually all patients are discharged to home on the day of surgery. All scrotal surgery should be considered to be ambulatory surgery.

Transseptal crossed vasovasostomy.

We examined 11 patients with acquired obstructive azoospermia resulting from irreparable obstruction of 1 vas deferens and severe damage to the contralateral testis. All of the patients underwent transseptal crossed vasovasostomy with no morbidity. Of 8 patients evaluated with postoperative semen analyses 4 (50 per cent) demonstrated total sperm counts of 29 to 205 million and 2 pregnancies (25 per cent) have been reported, with followup ranging from 5 months to 2 years. The etiologies of the vasal obstruction included previous inguinal surgery in 7 patients, vasectomy in 1, ejaculatory duct obstruction in 1, ectopic ureter in 1 and vasal agenesis in 1. Factors leading to loss of the contralateral testis were torsion in 5 patients, mumps orchitis in 2, varicocele in 1, pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy in 1, epididymal blow out in 1 and unknown in 1. A representative case involving a unilateral ectopic ureter emptying into the seminal vesicle and subsequent contralateral testicular torsion is presented. The results indicate that a transseptal crossed vasovasostomy should be done in patients satisfying the criteria presented.

Transient fertility after vasovasostomy in 892 patients.

We report on the low incidence of transient fertility in 892 patients who underwent microsurgical vasovasostomy. Of the 892 patients in whom fertile sperm concentrations (as defined by us) developed 2 to 8 months postoperatively 28 later suffered azoospermia or severe oligospermia. The wives of 5 of the 28 patients with such transient postoperative fertility became pregnant before the patients became azoospermic or severely oligospermic again.

PIP: The authors report on the low incidence of transient fertility in 892 patients who underwent microsurgical vasovasostomy. Of the 892 patients in whom fertile sperm concentrations (as defined by the authors) developed 2 to 8 months postoperatively, 28 later suffered azoospermia or severe oligospermia. The wives of 5 of the 28 patients with such transient postoperative fertility became pregnant before the patients became azoospermic or severly oligospermic again.

Testicular revascularization using arterial without venous anastomosis for intraperitoneal cryptorchism.

An eleven-year-old boy with bilateral intraperitoneal cryptorchism underwent transabdominal orchiopexy. The right internal spermatic vessels had to be divided to allow for scrotal transposition. Because of previous inguinal exploration, only the right inferior epigastric artery was found. The accompanying veins could not be identified. Therefore, the testicle was revascularized by an arterial without venous anastomosis. Perivasal collaterals were relied on to carry the venous return. The postoperative result was excellent, providing a testicle of growing size in the inferior scrotum nine months after surgery. Testicular revascularization in the management of intraperitoneal cryptorchism currently provides 85 to 90 per cent chance for a successful scrotal transposition when the testicular blood supply must be divided. This case suggests that only the arterial micro-anastomosis is necessary for the management of this difficult surgical problem. Further experience is needed to validate this concept.

Relationship of gross appearance of vas fluid during vasovasostomy to sperm quality, obstructive interval and sperm granuloma.

To study its intraoperative significance the gross appearance of the vas fluid found during vasovasostomy was compared to the quality of sperm in the fluid, obstructive interval and presence or absence of a histologically proved sperm granuloma. Data were obtained from 648 vasa in 340 patients. As the gross appearance increased in opacity, there was a small decrease in the proportion of morphologically normal, motile sperm (23 to 7 per cent) and a corresponding small increase in the proportion of sperm without tails (2 to 12 per cent). These minor trends had statistical but no intraoperative surgical significance. There was no variation in the proportion of vas fluid azoospermia with gross appearance. There was no significant difference in the gross appearance of the vas fluid with increasing obstructive interval. Finally, the presence or absence of a sperm granuloma had no effect on the gross appearance of the vas fluid, and the appearance had no predictive value relative to sperm granuloma. We conclude that the gross appearance of the vas fluid should not be used as a basis for operative decision-making during vasovasostomy.

PIP: To study its intraoperative significance, the gross appearance of the vas fluid found during vasovasostomy was compared to the quality of sperm in the fluid, obstructive interval, and presence or absence of a histologically proven sperm granuloma. Data were obtained from 648 vasa in 340 patients. As the gross appearance increased in opacity, there was a small decrease in the proportion of morphologically normal, motile sperm (23-7%) and a corresponding small increase in the proportion of sperm without tails (2-12%). These minor trends had statistical but no intraoperative surgical significance. There was no variation in the proportion of vas fluid azoospermia with gross appearance. There was no significant difference in the gross appearance of the vas fluid with increasing obstructive interval. Finally, the presence or absence of a sperm granuloma had no effect on the gross appearance of the vas fluid, and the appearance had no predictive value relative to sperm granuloma. The authors conclude that the gross appearance of the vas fluid should be not used as a basis for operative decisionmaking during vasovasostomy.