[Small-dose vardenafil restores erectile function after penile surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of penile surgery on the erectile function of the patient and to evaluate the role of small-dose vardenafil in restoring the impaired penile erection. METHODS: Sixty cases of penile cavernosum surgery were equally and randomly divided into a vardenafil and a control group, the former treated 5 - 7 days after surgery with 10 mg vardenafil every other day, while the latter given vitamin E at 100 mg once a day, both for 12 weeks. The penile erectile function of the patients was evaluated with the IIEF-5 questionnaire before surgery and at 3 and 6 months after vardenafil medication. RESULTS: The mean IIEF-5 scores of the vardenafil group were 18.83 +/- 2.98 and 20.13 +/- 2.98 at 3 and 6 months after vardenafil medication, significantly higher than 14.21 +/- 3.62 before surgery (P > 0.05), while that of the control group was significantly decreased at 3 months as compared with the preoperative score (13.38 +/- 2.82 versus 15.80 +/- 3.02, P < 0.05). The vardenafil group showed the highest IIEF-5 score after surgery (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Long-term administration of small-dose vardenafil after penile surgery helps to restore and maintain penile erectile function.

Study on changes of partial pressure of brain tissue oxygen and brain temperature in acute phase of severe head injury during mild hypothermia therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of partial pressure of brain tissue oxygen (PbtO2) and brain temperature in acute phase of severe head injury during mild hypothermia therapy and the clinical significance. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen patients with severe head injury were selected and divided into a mild hypothermia group (n=58), and a control group (n=58) according to odd and even numbers of hospitalization. While mild hypothermia therapy was performed PbtO2 and brain temperature were monitored for 1-7 days (mean=86 hours), simultaneously, the intracranial pressure, rectum temperature, cerebral perfusion pressure, PaO2 and PaCO2 were also monitored. The patients were followed up for 6 months and the prognosis was evaluated with GOS (Glasgow outcome scale). RESULTS: The mean value of PbtO2 within 24 hour monitoring in the 116 patients was 13.7 mm Hg +/- 4.94 mm Hg, lower than the normal value (16 mm Hg +/- 40 mm Hg ) The time of PbtO2 recovering to the normal value in the mild hypothermia group was shortened by 10 +/- 4.15 hours compared with the control group (P<0.05). The survival rate of the mild hypothermia group was 60.43%, higher than that of the control group (46.55%). After the recovery of the brain temperature, PbtO2 increased with the rise of the brain temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Mild hypothermia can improve the survival rate of severe head injury. The technique of monitoring PbtO2 and the brain temperature is safe and reliable, and has important clinical significance in judging disease condition and instructing clinical therapy.