NONINVASIVE MANAGEMENT OF ORGANIC IMPOTENCE

Objective: To establish the efficacy of a vacuum device (ErecAid) in t he management of organic impotence. Design: Cohort study; questionnair e before and after a 6-month study period. Setting: Groote Schuur Hosp ital, Cape Town. Participants: A total of 19 men with organic impotenc e, 8 diabetic and 11 with previous pelvic surgery or radiotherapy Inte rvention: Vacuum device (ErecAid, Osbon Medical Systems). Outcome meas ure: Efficacy of ErecAid. Results: Six of 8 diabetics and 6 of 11 non- diabetics reported successful intercourse, while 16 of the participant s would recommend the device to others. Some difficulty with the devic e was experienced by 11 and only 9 described an increase in self-estee m. Conclusion: Although some difficulties may be experienced in the us e of the ErecAid, it clearly has a role to play in the management of p atients with organic impotence, who ideally should be able to select t heir preferred form of therapy.