IMMEDIATE SEXUAL REHABILITATION BY SIMULTANEOUS PLACEMENT OF PENILE PROSTHESIS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY - INITIAL RESULTS IN 50 PATIENTS

Objectives. To evaluate the results of simultaneous placement of a pen ile prosthesis with radical prostatectomy. Methods. From June 1993 to June 1996, 50 men underwent a combination procedure of non-nerve spari ng radical retropubic prostatectomy and placement of a penile prosthes is. We performed a retrospective chart review of these patients, exami ning patient age, preoperative prostate-specific antigen level, Gleaso n score, operative time, estimated blood loss, analgesic use, length o f hospital stay, time until intercourse, and complications. This group was compared with a group of 72 men undergoing radical prostatectomy alone during the same time interval. Results. No significant differenc es were noted in preoperative patient variables. The mean operative ti me for prosthesis insertion was 82 minutes, and the mean time to sexua l intercourse was 12.7 weeks. No prosthesis infections have occurred, with a mean follow-up of 1.7 years. Four men (8%) have required revisi on of their inflatable penile prosthesis. There were no significant di fferences between the combination procedure and radical prostatectomy alone with regard to estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, or analgesic use. Conclusions. Simultaneous placement of a penile prosth esis during radical prostatectomy provides early return to sexual func tion, with no apparent increase in morbidity. Further study will be re quired to determine the impact of combination surgery on psychosocial adjustment and quality of life. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Inc. All ri ghts reserved.