Surgical implantation of artificial urinary device and penile prosthesis through trans-scrotal incision for postprostatectomy urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction: synchronous or delayed procedure?

OBJECTIVE: To compare simultaneous and 2-stage surgical implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) and penile prosthesis (PP) for patients with severe urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction after prostatectomy. METHODS: The data from 23 patients were reviewed, 15 (group 1) underwent simultaneous implantation and 8 (group 2) underwent 2-stage surgery. The operative time, complications, postoperative pain, incidence of pre- and postoperative urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction rating (International Consultation on Incontinence questionnaire, Incontinence Quality of Life, International Index of Erectile Function, and Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction), and patient satisfaction were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 140 minutes for the simultaneous procedure (group 1) and 105 minutes for AUS placement and 65 minutes for PP placement (group 2). No major postoperative complications were recorded. The average postoperative hospital stay was 2.5 days after the double-implant procedure and 2.4 days after AUS and 1.2 days after PP placement. The visual analog scale score at 6 and 24 hours after surgery was 5 and 3 in group 1, and 4 and 3 after AUS and 3 and 2 after PP (group 2; P > .05). At 1 year, all patients were socially continent, with an average International Consultation on Incontinence score of 2 in group 1 and 2 in group 2. Of the patients in groups 1 and 2, 65% and 68% were completely dry, respectively (P > .05). The Incontinence Quality of Life score increased from 37 to 84 in group 1 and from 41 to 82 in group 2. The Patient Global Impression of Improvement revealed that 92% of group 1 and 95% of group 2 experienced "great improvement" (P > .05). The International Index of Erectile Function and Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction score was 70 of 75 and 87 of 100 in group 1 and 72 of 75 and 86 of 100 in group 2, respectively (P > .05). Group 1 patients were completely satisfied, and all group 2 patients stated they would have preferred synchronous surgery. CONCLUSION: AUS and PP synchronous placement is feasible and safe and as effective as the 2-stage procedure, with better acceptance by patients.

A new, innovative, lengthening surgical procedure for Peyronie's disease by penile prosthesis implantation with double dorsal-ventral patch graft: the "sliding technique".

INTRODUCTION: Peyronie's disease is the result of the formation of fibrous plaques in the tunica albuginea of the penis; typical presentations of the disease are represented by pain during erection, erectile dysfunction, and penile deformities, such as curvature, narrowing, and penile shortening. The most complex treatment is related to penile shortening. AIM: To find a safe procedure in penile shortening due to Peyronie's disease providing a satisfactory lengthening, allowing an early stabilization of the penis, and preventing axial tension on the neurovascular bundles during dilation. METHODS: We describe a new lengthening surgical procedure based on a ventro-dorsal incision of the tunica albuginea, penile prosthesis implantation, and double dorsal-ventral patch grafting with porcine small intestinal submucosa. Three patients, affected by Peyronie's disease with penile shortening and erectile dysfunction, underwent this procedure with approval of our local ethical committee. We evaluated the penis lengthening, intraoperative and postoperative complications, patient's preoperative and postoperative sexual life satisfaction (International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF] questionnaire). RESULTS: The average operative time was 2 hours and 50 minutes. No major intraoperative nor postoperative complications occurred. No significant bleedings were recorded. Patients were discharged after 48-72 hours. The average increase in length obtained was 3.2 cm. All patients resumed sexual intercourses with satisfaction; no significant loss of sensitivity or any sign of vascular distress of the glans was recorded. The follow-up is 13 months. The average IIEF score is 60. CONCLUSIONS: The lengthening of the penis by a double dorsal-ventral patch graft is an innovative procedure that is based on current techniques of plaque incision and grafting, and that can easily resolve severe shortening of the penis due to Peyronie's disease. In the cases presented, this procedure resulted easily, effectively, and safely. Nevertheless, the technique proposed in this article shall be validated through prospective studies with larger samples.

Could plaque excision surgery with sis graft induce a new fibrotic reaction in la Peyronie's disease patients?

OBJECTIVES: Peyronie's disease is an acquired disorder of tunica albuginea characterized by the formation of a fibrous plaque which may be associated with pain during erection, penile shortening and/or curvature, difficult vaginal penetration and erectile dysfunction. Severe deformity and/or intractable erectile dysfunction require surgical management. The plaque excision with grafting technique requires the complete excision of the fibrotic tissue and its replacement with an autologous or eterologous graft; among the latter, porcine small intestine submucosa graft is widely used. Nowadays, it is not known if the unsatisfactory results of this surgery caused by a fibrotic process are directly determined by the graft material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 50 year-old patient with a severe dorsal penile curvature (> 90 degrees) not allowing penetration, without erectile dysfunction underwent plaque excision surgery with porcine small intestine submucosa grafting. Soon after the surgical intervention a new and progressive penile shortening with a penile dorsal curvature and a erectile dysfunction appear, and thus, six months later, a new plaque excision surgery with saphenous vein graft and penile prosthesis implantation was performed. During the first intervention, plaque and peri-plaque tissue were excised and analyzed, whilst during the second intervention fibrotic tissue on the graft and tissue around it were excised and analyzed, too. RESULTS: In the tissues excised during the second intervention, fibrosis was present either in graft or in peri-graft tissue. Around the graft material, a gigantocellular reaction (foreing body-like) was present and ossification was present, too. DISCUSSION: This type of inflammatory cellular component is associated with foreign body reactions and was never described in Peyronie's disease. Our results suggest that plaque excision surgery with SIS graft could induce the formation of a new cicatritial plaque, not directly correlated to Peyronie's disease, causing the formation of a new plaque and a new penile curvature.