Vol. 43 (3): 390-393, May – June, 2017
doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2017.03.04
Jonathan Clavell-Hernández 1, Run Wang 1,2
1 Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA; 2 University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
Keywords: Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; Erectile Dysfunction; Penile Erection; Prostatectomy
INTRODUCTION
The advancement and refinement in prostate cancer detection and treatment modalities have contributed to a younger patient population undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) (1). Although it is effective in treating prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy has also been shown to compromise erectile function (EF), and therefore the patient’s quality of life and general well being (2). Alemozaffar et al. (3) attempted to predict erectile function after prostate cancer patients undergoing RP, external radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Pretreatment sexual health related quality of life score, age, serum prostate-specific antigen level, race/ethnicity, body mass index and intended treatment details were associated with functional erections 2 years after treatment. They found that 48% of patients (n=1027) with functional erections prior to treatment reported erectile dysfunction 2 years after treatment. In the prostatectomy cohort, 60% of patients with prior functional erections reported erectile dysfunction, along with 42% and 37% of the external radiotherapy and brachytherapy cohorts, respectively. The Prostate Cancer Outcomes study revealed 60% of men experienced self-reported erectile dysfunction 18 months after radical prostatectomy, and only 28% of men reported erections firm enough for intercourse at a 5-year follow-up (4). Many urologists believe more patients would be willing to undergo surgical treatment if it were not for the possibility of developing postoperative ED (2).
