Penile Implant Surgery
Penile Implant Surgery
Penile implant surgery is a procedure of placing a penile prosthesis in the penis. The goal is to facilitate erection for successful completion of sexual intercourse. It is an irreversible surgical procedure and used only in men with psychogenic impotence that does not respond to treatment and fail to achieve or maintain an erection with the aid of erectile dysfunction drugs. Penile prosthesis is cartilaginous support to keep the penis erect. Penile prostheses are divided into two main categories: rigid, semi rigid and malleable rods and inflatable prostheses. Inflatable prostheses may be multi component or single component self contained inflatable device. While the main goal is to facilitate penetration and sexual intercourse, care has also to be taken that the sexual act satisfies both partners. There is no single device that is best for all and it is crucial that the surgeon discusses the risks, benefits and disadvantages of each type. Rigid prostheses allow a simplistic implantation and have no movable parts. This translates into low mechanical failure. The biggest disadvantage is that the erection is difficult to hide and also likely to create a urinary obstruction leading to urine retention. Moreover, prostate surgery, if and when needed, may be difficult to perform with a rigid implant in place.
Implantation is commonly associated with treatment of erectile dysfunction in men who do not get results from erectile dysfunction drugs. Penile prosthesis is also used in what is known as penile plastic surgery phalloplasty. Phalloplasty is reconstructive surgery on the penis to repair congenital abnormality or injury. It isalos used in female to male transsexual patients. Earlier treatment in such cases resulted in a penis size 5cm long with a narrow width. With phalloplasty it is possible to increase the size and volume of the penis for insertion of an implant of any model.
Penile surgery for implanting a device is a complex procedure and should be performed by an expert surgeon. There is an express need for taking care to avoid future complications like infection, perforation. Perforation in the corporal body may lead to migration of the device, This is manageable by a Dacron graft, which may increase the surgical time. Complications arising from penile infection can sometimes be drastic.
Surgery for penile implant may take up to two hours and done under general or spinal anesthesia. To insert the implant the tissue filled chambers are stretched. If it is an inflatable implant a pump is placed inside the scrotum or a fluid filled in the lower abdomen. It should be kept in mind that surgery for implantation is irreversible.
Considering the risks involved it is important that full implications of the implantations are understood before you actually get it done. The selection of the right type of device is crucial and so is the measurement of length and diameter to fit the penile cavities. However, in certain cases penile implant surgery may be the only answer to erectile dysfunction.