Abstract
Purpose: This study was aimed at assessing prospectively the effect of postoperative intracavernous injections of alprostadil on the recovery of spontaneous erectile function after nervesparing radical retropubic prostatectomy. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 potent patients with clinically localized prostate cancer (clinical stage B1 or B2, Gleason sum 7 or greater, prostatic specific antigen less than 20 ng./ml.) underwent nerve- sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy and was subsequently randomized to alprostadil injections 3 times per week for 12 weeks (group 1, 15 patients) or observation without any erectogenic treatment (group 2, 15 patients). Patients were assessed at the 6-month followup by sexual history, physical examination, color Doppler sonography of the cavernous arteries and polisomnographic recording of nocturnal erections. Results: In group 1, 12 patients (80%) completed the entire treatment schedule and were evaluated at the long-term followup. Eight patients in this group (67%) reported the recovery of spontaneous erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse, compared with 3 patients (20%) in group 2. The difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (p
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1408-1410 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of Urology |
Volume | 158 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 1997 |
Keywords
- Alprostadil
- Penis
- Prostate
- Prostatectomy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Urology