Penile implant surgery-managing complications

A review of the safety and efficacy of inflatable penile prosthesis ectopic reservoir placement

INTRODUCTION

Patient medical and surgical history factors, such as prior prostatectomy, may lead surgeons to opt for ectopic reservoir placement rather than the standard reservoir location in the retropubic space (RPS) during inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) placement.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the safety and effectiveness of ectopic reservoir placement used with three-piece IPPs in relation to reservoir placement in the RPS.

METHODS

A systematic review of MEDLINE/Pubmed and Embase databases was performed for literature between 1970 and 2022. Clinical studies and case reports describing three-piece IPP reservoir placement and clinical outcomes on AMS 700, similar products (such as Coloplast Titan), and three-piece IPPs where the manufacturer is not specified were included.

RESULTS

Seventy articles were identified that reported clinical outcomes on three-piece IPP reservoir placement, which included data on 9565 patients. Of these, 67% of the reservoirs (n = 6413) were placed in ectopic locations. These locations were defined as submuscular (n = 5207), retroperitoneal (n = 405), sub-external oblique (n = 50), peritoneal (n = 42), subcutaneous (n = 10), and did not specify the ectopic location (n = 694). A total of 670 patients had ectopic placement of the AMS 700 reservoirs specifically. Overall, there were no elevated rates in safety outcomes between RPS and ectopic placement. Fourteen studies directly compared safety and/or efficacy outcomes between RPS and ectopic placement and did not report any significant differences between patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Ectopic reservoir placement of three-piece IPPs, including AMS 700, is comparable in terms of safety, efficacy, and patient satisfaction to RPS reservoir placement. Ectopic reservoir placement of the AMS 700 device is also similarly comparable to ectopically placed reservoirs of other IPPs as reported in the literature. Surgeons should consider ectopic implantation for patients at higher risk of complications associated with reservoir placement into the RPS.

Management of the Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Reservoir at time of revision surgery: remove, retain, or recycle?

BACKGROUND

Three common strategies exist for managing the inflatable penile prosthesis reservoir during revision surgery: the original reservoir can be (a) removed, (b) deactivated and left in situ, sometimes referred to as "drain and retain" (DR), or (c) validated and reconnected to new cylinders, which we have termed "reservoir recycling" (RR).

AIM

To compare the efficacy and safety of the RR approach to penile prosthesis revision against DR and the recommended approach of complete device removal and replacement.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of our single-surgeon inflatable penile prosthesis database between 2007 and 2022 was performed, identifying revision surgeries. Cases were stratified by reservoir management technique. Patients who had undergone at least 1 follow-up visit and had complete documentation regarding reservoir handling were included. Reservoir-related complications necessitating surgical intervention such as infection and device failure were compared between the 3 groups using a chi-square test. Mean follow-up duration, time to revision, and operative time were also assessed.

OUTCOMES

The primary outcome was the incidence of reservoir-related complications requiring surgical intervention and secondary outcomes included time to revision surgery and operative time.

RESULTS

Among 140 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 62 underwent full reservoir replacement (FR), 48 DR, and 30 RR. Compared to FR, DR and RR groups had similar mean time to revision and intraoperative time. Follow-up duration was similarly limited for all 3 groups at a median of approximately 4.5 months. There were no postoperative infections in the RR cohort. However, when compared to the DR and FR groups, this did not reach significance (P = .398). There was no difference in mechanical failure rate between the 3 groups (P = .059). Nonmechanical failure was also similar between all 3 groups (P = .165).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

These results suggest that RR exhibits comparable outcomes to DR and FR, making it a viable option during select penile prosthesis revision surgeries, potentially decreasing morbidity without compromising outcomes.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

This is the first study to evaluate outcomes after RR. Limitations include small sample size, limited follow-up, and single-surgeon experience.

CONCLUSION

There was no difference in reservoir-related complications when comparing the 3 methods. These preliminary results suggest that reservoir recycling may provide a safe and effective reservoir-handling alternative in inflatable penile prosthesis revision surgery.

Overcoming Challenges in Retrieving an Encapsulated Rear Tip Extensor During Conversion From Malleable to Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Surgery: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Insertion of inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is generally regarded as a safe procedure, with low rates of complications. However, when complications do arise, they can pose significant challenges to both patients and surgeons. Patient optimization and adherence to specific intraoperative protocols are crucial in mitigating the risk of surgical complications. Standardization of intraoperative management, including the administration of intravenous antibiotics, meticulous aseptic techniques, and antibiotic irrigation of the prosthesis, is paramount. Furthermore, having the appropriate set of instruments can reduce operative time and minimize tissue manipulation. While the literature predominantly focuses on outcomes such as infection, prosthesis malfunction, corporal perforation, and penile length loss, reports on managing retained prosthetic components are rare. This uncommon complication raises important considerations regarding whether foreign bodies should be left in place or removed during revision penile prosthetic surgeries. We present the case of a 49-year-old male who underwent IPP insertion. Following complications due to infection, salvage penile prosthetic surgery was performed 38 days after penile prosthesis insertion, using a temporary malleable implant. Subsequently, eight months later, the patient underwent surgery for the replacement of the malleable implant with an IPP. During the replacement procedure, the right-side malleable component was removed easily, while the left-side component was discovered to have the rear tip missing. Removal attempts using intracorporeal rigid cystoscopy and graspers were unsuccessful, necessitating a perineal counter incision for retrieval. After successfully removing the encapsulated extensor, a new IPP was successfully placed without complications.

A Rare Complication of an Inflatable Penile Prosthesis: Penile Skin Necrosis Due to Inappropriate Use of the Condom Catheter

Penile prosthesis implantation is considered a last-resort treatment for erectile dysfunction, used when pharmacological and other conservative treatments are inadequate or at the patient's request. The well-documented complications of penile prostheses include pain, infection, mechanical failure, improper positioning, and erosion. In this case, we report a patient presenting with penile skin necrosis, despite the absence of typical risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, or chronic renal failure, attributed to pressure from a condom catheter that was used 15 years after the inflatable penile prosthesis implantation.

Twisting of Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Tubing Leading to Device Malfunction and Required Explantation: A Rare Complication

Erectile dysfunction (ED), the impairment of achieving and maintaining an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse, is a common pathology that men experience for a variety of different factors. Conservative treatment for ED includes changing medications, lifestyle modifications, and psychotherapy. Pharmaceutical and nonsurgical interventions include phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors(PDE-5i), intracavernosal medication injections, and vacuum devices. Surgical treatment options for ED have evolved over time and currently include the use of inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) and malleable penile prosthesis. IPP insertion is usually met with good patient satisfaction. However, complications of device insertion can include corporal perforation, urethral injury, cylinder erosion or extrusion, infection, and mechanical failure, to name a few. Our patient presented with device malfunction and intraoperative assessment showed the IPP tubing twisted at the levels of the reservoir on the first operation and the level of the cylinder and scrotal pump on the second operation. The twisting of the tubing resulted in a nonfunctioning IPP as the fluid was unable to fill the cylinders resulting in an erection. The patient was managed with complete device explanation and reinsertion of a new three-piece IPP per the patient and partner's request. This is the first case report highlighting this specific complication, and we hope to provide clinicians with the resources to recognize this rare complication.

Phallus Reconstruction Using the Third Finger Transplant Method: A Case Report

There are many methods of phallus reconstruction, often requiring the use of prosthetics and multiple-stage interventions. The unique method discussed in this case report uses a finger complex in order to create a neourethra as well as act in place of the prosthesis, thus offering a one-stage intervention with the restoration of full biomechanical functions of the phallus and no need for revision surgeries. We present a patient, a 52-year-old male, who had previously undergone a subtotal penile resection due to oncological disease. In our clinic, he then underwent a phallus reconstruction surgery using a third finger from a non-dominant hand and radial forearm flap. After the surgery, he was able to regain full biomechanical functions of the phallus within a month as well as achieve adequate tactile and erogenous sensitivity.

A global, propensity-score matched analysis of patients receiving inflatable penile prostheses and the risk of complications, infections, and re-interventions

Background

Over 25,000 men undergo inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) placement yearly to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Although various comorbidities are hypothesized risk factors for complications, this remains incompletely understood. Our objective was to utilize multi-institutional data to characterize risk for reintervention, complications, and infections in patients with common suspected risk factors undergoing IPP placement.

Methods

We queried the TriNetX database for adult men who underwent IPP placement from 2003-2023 utilizing Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. We examined the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), nicotine use, radiation therapy (RT), radical prostatectomy (RP), and urethral surgery [urethroplasty, artificial urinary sphincter (AUS), male urethral sling (MS)] on clinical outcomes defined by International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. Our primary outcome was need for reintervention based on CPT codes. Secondary outcomes included overall rates of complication and infection utilizing ICD-10 codes. Analytics were performed using TriNetX to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival. We evaluated outcomes overall and for each individual comparison cohort using the remaining demographic variables to perform propensity score matching (PSM).

Results

In a total of 11,026 patients there was an overall 13.5% risk of undergoing at least one reintervention, with some undergoing multiple based on CPT codes. KM analysis showed a median IPP survival of 18.2 years and a projected 10- and 20-year survival probability at 70.6% and 48.4% respectively. Overall complication rate was 19.3% with a 5.2% rate of infection based on ICD codes. Patients with history of urethral surgery were at higher risk of both IPP complication and re-intervention. When further analyzing type of re-intervention, patients with a history of smoking, prior RP, and prior AUS/MS placement had higher rates of device removal. Patients with a history of diabetes were less likely to undergo IPP replacement at the time of explant. There were no identified risk factors for IPP infection.

Conclusions

This is the largest cohort of patients ever evaluated and can help guide patient selection and counseling. There was a higher rate of IPP complications than previously reported, but this may be due to different reporting parameters. History of prior urethral surgery conferred a higher risk of complications and re-intervention. These results can help guide patient selection and counseling.

Early vs delayed insertion of penile prosthesis in patients with refractory priapism: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Refractory priapism, characterized by persistent and prolonged painful erections despite initial treatment maneuvers, can significantly impair erectile function secondary to ischemia-induced corporal tissue fibrosis. These patients will likely require subsequent penile prosthesis (PP) surgery to regain sexual activity, yet consensus regarding the optimal timing of implantation remains lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes associated with early vs delayed PP implantation in individuals with priapism-induced erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODS

We included studies that focused on refractory priapism leading to ED and its management with PP implantation. We assessed cohort study bias with a risk-of-bias tool and case series bias with the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by a fixed-effect model.

RESULTS

We included 9 studies, comprising 4 cohort studies and 5 case series, involving a total of 278 patients. Total complications were higher in the delayed group (OR, 4.16; 95% CI, 2.77-6.26). Fibrosis was significantly more pronounced in the delayed group (OR, 118.18; 95% CI, 20.06-696.32). The odds of erosion, infections, and penile injury did not show statistically significant differences between the groups (OR, 2.52 [95% CI, 0.67-9.49], 0.89 [0.38-2.10], 1.83 [0.79-4.26], respectively). Patients' satisfaction resulted in a pooled OR of 0.15 (95% CI, 0.04-0.49) in favor of the early PP insertion group.

CONCLUSION

The results from this study favor an early approach to ED (within 30 days) following ischemic priapism. However, it is important to consider patients' preferences, values, and psychological factors to make an informed decision.

A propensity score-matched analysis of intra- and postoperative penile prosthetic complications in the solid organ transplant population

INTRODUCTION

Solid organ transplant (SOT) has an anticipated higher risk of penile prosthesis (PP) complications related to immunosuppression and surgical approach post-SOT. It is still not determined if PP surgery in the SOT population incurs these same higher risks.

OBJECTIVES

To observe differences in intra- and postoperative PP complications between SOT and non-SOT cases from the TriNetX US Collaborative Network, a large real-world database of deidentified patient data from 56 health care organizations within the United States.

METHODS

We used the TriNetX database to perform a propensity score-matched cohort study comparing 10-year outcomes between patients with and without a SOT (kidney, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, and intestine) who underwent a PP procedure. Cohorts were matched on age, race/ethnicity, history of pelvic and abdominal surgery, overweight and obesity status, type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, substance use disorders, socioeconomic difficulties, anticoagulant/antiplatelet medications, and spinal cord injury. Outcomes included intra- and perioperative complications as well as prosthetic complications (mechanical malfunction, fibrosis, displacement, hemorrhage, pain, stenosis, removal with or without replacement, and complex [all postoperative complications]).

RESULTS

There were 233 patients in each group after matching (SOT and non-SOT). The mean ± SD age at the prosthesis procedure was 59.7 ± 9.89 years, and 44% of patients were White (P > .05). There was no significant difference for incidence of intra- and perioperative complications (2.62% vs 2.19%, P = .76). The SOT group did not have a higher 10-year incidence of complex complications (30.58% vs 27.51%, P = .11) or mechanical malfunction (10.35% vs 11.62%, P = .25) when compared with the non-SOT group. No difference was found for other prosthetic-related complications (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

In our analysis, patients with a SOT were not more likely to experience long-term complications related to PP. Surgeons performing PP surgery in the SOT population may consider this procedure a potentially safe and viable option for restoring erectile function.

Successful re-implantation of eroded penile prostheses: Report of two cases and review of the literature

Prompt removal of eroded penile prostheses is recommended in most cases. However, saving and reimplanting eroded implants may be considered in patients without signs of sepsis, local infection or necrosis during preoperative evaluations and surgical exploration. Notably, close postoperative surveillance is crucial in this setting.

Do Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors Increase the Risk of Urologic Implant Reintervention?

OBJECTIVE

To understand whether patients taking sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) would be at a similar risk of genitourinary device infection or failure as patients not taking these medications.

METHODS

We queried the TriNetX database for all adult male patients undergoing artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) or inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) and compared patients taking SGLT2i against those not. Cohorts and outcomes were defined using current procedural terminology and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes. We used Age, body mass index, diabetes, smoking history and history of prostatectomy to generate propensity score matching. Our primary outcome was need for reintervention after implantation based on current procedural terminology codes. Secondary outcomes included infection rate and overall complication rate based on ICD-10 codes. Analytics were performed via TriNetX which calculated risk ratios.

RESULTS

Analyses were run on November 28, 2022. After propensity score matching, there were 319 and 83 patients in each IPP and AUS cohort and comorbidity profiles were similar. Patients with an IPP on an SGLT2i were at a lower risk of overall complication (10.6% vs 16.1%, RR 0.66, P = .049). There was similar rates for AUS and risk of complication and for either implant on risk of infection or reintervention.

CONCLUSION

Patients taking SGLT2is may be safely offered urologic implants. Patients taking an SGLT2 had a lower risk of complication for IPP, and there were similar rates of infection and reintervention for both IPP and AUS.

The pedicled gracilis muscle combined with the fascia lata: a preliminary clinical study of a new biomimetic dynamic phalloplasty method

BACKGROUND

Phalloplasty is a challenging procedure in the field of repair and reconstruction. Traditional skin flap methods with prostheses or autologous tissue implantation are still common; however, with this method the reconstructed phallus is static and has a high risk of complications.

AIM

We aimed to use novel methods for phalloplasty to mimic the normal structure of the phallus while maintaining the patient's ability to obtain sufficient hardness and subjective controllability.

METHODS

The neophallus comprised the bilateral pedicled neurovascular gracilis muscle, which provided neophallus volitional control; the pedicled fascia lata, which mimicked the tunica albuginea; the pedicled anterolateral thigh flap, which was used to reconstruct the neourethra and neoglans; and the thin split-thickness skin grafted on the surface of the fascia lata. The urethral anastomosis was performed simultaneously. The appearance and function of the neophallus, as well as patient satisfaction, were evaluated postoperatively.

OUTCOMES

The biomimetic dynamic phalloplasty using the bilateral pedicled gracilis muscle combined with the fascia lata was successfully performed in 4 patients.

RESULTS

During follow-up at 10-21 months after the procedure, all 4 patients could complete sexual intercourse and were satisfied with the appearance and self-controllability of the neophallus. The size of the neophallus stabilized within 6 months. The tactile, deep touch sensation, and pain sensations of the neophallus partially recovered. All of the patients could stand to urinate.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

We used the gracilis muscle combined with the fascia lata to mimic the basic structure of the corpus cavernosum and tunica albuginea and successfully reconstructed the biomimetic dynamic neophallus.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

This is to our knowledge the first report of biomimetic dynamic phalloplasty using the bilateral pedicled gracilis muscle combined with the fascia lata to mimic the complex structure of the phallus and enable the achievement of erection. However, due to the small number of patients included in this study, the data have no statistical significance. More cases are needed to obtain conclusive data and examine the long-term clinical effects of this procedure.

CONCLUSION

Using novel methods for phalloplasty, we successfully maintained the patient's ability to obtain sufficient hardness and subjective controllability without the use of implants, and the preliminary clinical results are encouraging.

A Rare Case of Incarcerated Inguinal Hernia Containing Fat and a Penile Reservoir

The inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is a three-piece device indicated to treat erectile dysfunction. Although it is considered a safe procedure, it can result in complications, such as reservoir herniation. Literature is scarce regarding reservoir incarcerated herniation as a complication of IPP and its management. Surgery is required to reduce symptomatic hernias and properly secure the reservoir to avoid recurrence. An untreated incarcerated hernia may lead to strangulation and necrosis of abdominal organs, as well as implant malfunction. We present a rare case of a left-sided incarcerated inguinal hernia containing fat and a penile reservoir of a previous penile prosthesis implant in a 79-year-old man, as well as the technique used to correct it.

A Preliminary Study of Constructing the Tissue-Engineered Corpus Cavernosum With Autologous Adipose Stem Cells In Vivo

Introduction

The autologous skin flap is still the mainstream method for penile reconstruction, but it is very difficult to reconstruct a functional corpus cavernosum. Tissue engineering provides a new idea aiming to restore the damaged or absent corpus cavernosum.

Aim

To assess the feasibility of constructing the tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum with autologous adipose stem cells in a rabbit model.

Methods

A total of 30 New Zealand male white rabbits. Among them, 20 rabbits were used to obtain the original corpus cavernosum which were used to prepare the acellular corporal scaffolds (ACSs). The others were used for acquiring autologous adipose stem cells (ADSCs) and constructing tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum in vivo.

Outcome

ACSs were obtained from rabbit penile tissues through an established decellularization procedure. Rabbit autologous ADSCs as seed cells were harvested and expanded. The ADSCs seeded and unseeded ACSs were implanted back into the intramuscular and subcutaneous site in vivo, and the tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum was harvested and analyzed with gross morphology, histological staining, and real-time PCR assay after 1, 3, and 6 months.

Results

ACSs were successfully prepared. The cell non-cytotoxicity and integrity of micro-architecture of ACSs was confirmed in vitro. The cell-seeded scaffold in the intramuscular group was considered as the better strategy for constructing the tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum compared with the other groups. Some α-SMA and CD31 positive cells were detected and identified by immunofluorescent staining and real-time PCR assay in the tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum.

Clinical Translation

This study provides a new method for constructing the tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum.

Strengths and Limitations

First, it is urgent to improve the transformation rate of the endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells from ADSCs. Second, the scaffold harvested in this study was not a complete matrix. Third, further study is needed to explore the potential mechanism of which scaffolds are more suitable for living in intramuscular rather than subcutaneous environment.

Conclusion

In this study, we used the autologous ADSCs as seed cells, the acellular corpus cavernosum as scaffolds, and implanted the grafts back into the rabbit model to preliminarily construct the tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum. This study would provide help for further development in tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum.

Cao Z, Liu L, Jiao H, et al. A Preliminary Study of Constructing the Tissue-Engineered Corpus Cavernosum With Autologous Adipose Stem Cells In Vivo. Sex Med 2022;10:100563.