An update on: long-term outcomes of penile prostheses for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Penile prosthesis placement is the gold standard for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) refractory to medical therapy; however, limited data exist on the long-term outcomes of these devices. AREAS COVERED: A PubMed search focused on long-term outcomes of penile prosthetics was performed. Studies with a follow-up of less than 5 years were excluded. Included studies were arranged chronologically by implant date to identify trends in device lifetime. Data were further scrutinized to separate device failure secondary to mechanical malfunction from device failure secondary to infection. EXPERT OPINION: Limited data prevent accurate 15-year predictions for modern prosthetics. The 5- and 10-year overall survival of modern prosthetics is estimated to be 90.4% and 86.6%, respectively. Infection rates are estimated to be 1.5% and 1.8% at 8 and 10 years, respectively. While great strides have been made in device design, there is still potential for advancement in both infection rate reduction and mechanical improvement. The combination of increased collaboration between implanting urologists and engineers from prosthetic device companies and improved, prospectively collected data will usher prosthetic urology into its next era.

Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum in the Treatment of Peyronie's Disease: Review of a Minimally Invasive Treatment Option.

Peyronie's disease (PD) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by an abnormal collagen deposition in the tunica albuginea of the penis, leading to fibrous and non-compliant plaques that can impede normal erection. Although pharmacological treatments are available, only intralesional injection therapy and surgical reconstruction have demonstrated tangible clinical efficacy in the management of this condition. Intralesional injection of collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) has come to the forefront of minimally invasive treatment of PD. In this review, the authors provide an update on the safety, efficacy, and indications for CCH. The efficacy of CCH will be assessed on the basis of improvement in the severity of penile fibrosis, curvature, and pain. Numerous well-designed clinical trials and post-approval studies involving more than 1,500 patients have consistently demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of CCH in the treatment of PD. CCH significantly decreases penile curvature and plaque consistency, as well as improves quality of life. Post-approval studies continue to demonstrate the efficacy of CCH despite broader inclusion criteria for treatment, such as the case with acute phase disease and atypical plaque deformities (i.e., ventral plaques, hourglass narrowing). CCH continues to be the gold standard for non-surgical management of stable phase PD, in the absence of strong evidence supporting oral therapy agents and ongoing evaluation of extracorporeal shockwave therapy. However, recent studies are beginning to provide precedent for the use of CCH in the management of acute phase and atypical PD.

Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum in the treatment of Peyronie's disease: patient selection and perspectives.

The safety and efficacy of the use of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) for the treatment of Peyronie's disease has been confirmed over the past several years. However, identification of the ideal patient population for use of this treatment is not well established. Multiple studies have attempted to delineate various patient-specific factors that may predict response to treatment with CCH, with the intent of enhancing patient selection. To date, these include baseline curvature severity, duration of disease, disease phase at presentation, plaque calcification, baseline erectile function, plaque size, age, comorbid diabetes, previous penile trauma, responsiveness to first treatment cycle, baseline penile shortening or pain, prior treatment with intralesional injection, compliance with plaque modeling, and atypical curvature. In addition, other studies have sought to explore various aspects of treatment with CCH that may affect patient perspective of treatment. They have focused on patient-reported outcomes, female partner considerations, cost of treatment, and potential confounders of patient satisfaction. This review provides a summary and analysis of currently available literature on topics of patient selection and perspectives in regard to treatment of Peyronie's disease with CCH.

Clinical use of alprostadil topical cream in patients with erectile dysfunction: a review.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common and debilitating disorder seen in over 50% of men older than 70 years. Oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are the mainstay of treatment for ED, but cannot be used by a significant subset of patients due to systemic side effects and drug-drug interactions. Second-line therapy may include intracavernosal therapies, but are associated with poor compliance due to their invasive nature. Alprostadil has a mechanism of action different from that of PDE5 inhibitors. Clinical trials have shown topical alprostadil cream to be effective, increasing the erectile function (EF) score of the International Index of EF by up to 13 points from baseline. It has also proven to be safe and well tolerated, with mild-to-moderate and transient treatment-related adverse events that are generally localized to the application site. Topical alprostadil cream is a safe and effective second-line therapy for ED, indicated for those who cannot tolerate, or are not satisfied with, oral PDE5 inhibitor therapy.

Modifying Risk Factors in the Management of Erectile Dysfunction: A Review.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent among men and its presence is often an indicator of systemic disease. Risk factors for ED include cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), tobacco use, hyperlipidemia, hypogonadism, lower urinary tract symptoms, metabolic syndrome, and depression. Addressing the modifiable risk factors frequently improves a patient's overall health and increases lifespan. The literature suggests that smoking cessation, treatment of hyperlipidemia, and increasing physical activity will improve erectile function in many patients. How the treatment of DM, depression, and hypogonadism impacts erectile function is less clear. Clinicians need to be aware that certain antihypertensive agents can adversely impact erectile function. The treatment of men with ED needs to address the underlying risk factors to ameliorate the disease process.

An evidence-based unified definition of lifelong and acquired premature ejaculation: report of the second international society for sexual medicine ad hoc committee for the definition of premature ejaculation.

INTRODUCTION: The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) Ad Hoc Committee for the Definition of Premature Ejaculation developed the first evidence-based definition for lifelong premature ejaculation (PE) in 2007 and concluded that there were insufficient published objective data at that time to develop a definition for acquired PE. AIM: The aim of this article is to review and critique the current literature and develop a contemporary, evidence-based definition for acquired PE and/or a unified definition for both lifelong and acquired PE. METHODS: In April 2013, the ISSM convened a second Ad Hoc Committee for the Definition of Premature Ejaculation in Bangalore, India. The same evidence-based systematic approach to literature search, retrieval, and evaluation used by the original committee was adopted. RESULTS: The committee unanimously agreed that men with lifelong and acquired PE appear to share the dimensions of short ejaculatory latency, reduced or absent perceived ejaculatory control, and the presence of negative personal consequences. Men with acquired PE are older, have higher incidences of erectile dysfunction, comorbid disease, and cardiovascular risk factors, and have a longer intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) as compared with men with lifelong PE. A self-estimated or stopwatch IELT of 3 minutes was identified as a valid IELT cut-off for diagnosing acquired PE. On this basis, the committee agreed on a unified definition of both acquired and lifelong PE as a male sexual dysfunction characterized by (i) ejaculation that always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about 1 minute of vaginal penetration from the first sexual experience (lifelong PE) or a clinically significant and bothersome reduction in latency time, often to about 3 minutes or less (acquired PE); (ii) the inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; and (iii) negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy. CONCLUSION: The ISSM unified definition of lifelong and acquired PE represents the first evidence-based definition for these conditions. This definition will enable researchers to design methodologically rigorous studies to improve our understanding of acquired PE. Serefoglu EC, McMahon CG, Waldinger MD, Althof SE, Shindel A, Adaikan G, Becher EF, Dean J, Giuliano F, Hellstrom WJG, Giraldi A, Glina S, Incrocci L, Jannini E, McCabe M, Parish S, Rowland D, Segraves RT, Sharlip I, and Torres LO. An evidence-based unified definition of lifelong and acquired premature ejaculation: Report of the second International Society for Sexual Medicine Ad Hoc Committee for the Definition of Premature Ejaculation. Sex Med 2014;2:41-59.

An Update of the International Society of Sexual Medicine's Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Premature Ejaculation (PE).

INTRODUCTION: In 2009, the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) convened a select panel of experts to develop an evidence-based set of guidelines for patients suffering from lifelong premature ejaculation (PE). That document reviewed definitions, etiology, impact on the patient and partner, assessment, and pharmacological, psychological, and combined treatments. It concluded by recognizing the continually evolving nature of clinical research and recommended a subsequent guideline review and revision every fourth year. Consistent with that recommendation, the ISSM organized a second multidisciplinary panel of experts in April 2013, which met for 2 days in Bangalore, India. This manuscript updates the previous guidelines and reports on the recommendations of the panel of experts. AIM: The aim of this study was to develop clearly worded, practical, evidenced-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of PE for family practice clinicians as well as sexual medicine experts. METHOD: A comprehensive literature review was performed. RESULTS: This article contains the report of the second ISSM PE Guidelines Committee. It offers a new unified definition of PE and updates the previous treatment recommendations. Brief assessment procedures are delineated, and validated diagnostic and treatment questionnaires are reviewed. Finally, the best practices treatment recommendations are presented to guide clinicians, both familiar and unfamiliar with PE, in facilitating treatment of their patients. CONCLUSION: Development of guidelines is an evolutionary process that continually reviews data and incorporates the best new research. We expect that ongoing research will lead to a more complete understanding of the pathophysiology as well as new efficacious and safe treatments for this sexual dysfunction. We again recommend that these guidelines be reevaluated and updated by the ISSM in 4 years. Althof SE, McMahon CG, Waldinger MD, Serefoglu EC, Shindel AW, Adaikan PG, Becher E, Dean J, Giuliano F, Hellstrom WJG, Giraldi A, Glina S, Incrocci L, Jannini E, McCabe M, Parish S, Rowland D, Segraves RT, Sharlip I, and Torres LO. An update of the International Society of Sexual Medicine's guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of premature ejaculation (PE). Sex Med 2014;2:60-90.

Effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors on erectile function, sexual desire and ejaculation.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARI) is commonly utilized for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The true prevalence of sexual side effects with 5ARI treatment is currently unknown. AREAS COVERED: The current article reviews the reported adverse effects of 5ARI in regard to erectile function, sexual desire and ejaculation. A PubMed search was performed of all articles from 1990 to present, which reported any sexual side effects with finasteride or dutasteride. Preference was given to more recent and human studies where available. EXPERT OPINION: Clinical trials with 5ARI report prevalence rates of de novo erectile dysfunction of 5 - 9%. Decreased circulating dihydrotestosterone (DHT) resulting from 5ARI use is associated with diminished sexual desire and/or orgasm. The presence of adverse sexual effects is associated with decreased self-esteem, quality of life and ability to maintain an intimate relationship. Inhibition of 5ARI additionally influences progesterone and deoxycorticosterone levels and may alter psychological functions, including increased depression, melancholy and loss of general well being. Ejaculatory dysfunction has not been well studied in patients using 5ARI. Patients receiving therapy with 5ARI should be counseled as to potential sexual and psychological adverse effects. Future clinical studies are needed to further investigate the sexual side effects associated with this class of drugs.

Current and emerging treatment options for Peyronie's disease.

Peyronie's disease (PD) is a condition of the penis, characterized by the presence of localized fibrotic plaque in the tunica albuginea. PD is not an uncommon disorder, with recent epidemiologic studies documenting a prevalence of 3-9% of adult men affected. The actual prevalence of PD may be even higher. It is often associated with penile pain, anatomical deformities in the erect penis, and difficulty with intromission. As the definitive pathophysiology of PD has not been completely elucidated, further basic research is required to make progress in the understanding of this enigmatic condition. Similarly, research on effective therapies is limited. Currently, nonsurgical treatments are used for those men who are in the acute stage of PD, whereas surgical options are reserved for men with established PD who cannot successfully penetrate. Intralesional treatments are growing in clinical popularity as a minimally invasive approach in the initial treatment of PD. A surgical approach should be considered when men with PD do not respond to conservative, medical, or minimally invasive therapies for approximately 1 year and cannot have satisfactory sexual intercourse. As scientific breakthroughs in the understanding of the mechanisms of this disease process evolve, novel treatments for the many men suffering with PD are anticipated.

Tratamiento intracavernoso y dispositivos de vacío en el tratamiento de la disfunción eréctil / Intracavernosal therapy and vacuum devices to treat erectile dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of action, as well as the risks and benefits of two popular and effective treatment modalities for erectile dysfunction (ED).Intracavernosal injection (ICI) therapy involves direct injection of vasoactive agents into cavernosal tissue to facilitate erection. Commonly perscribed agents include PGE1 (alprostadil), papaverine, and phentolamine. Though there are some risks associated with improper injection technique, these agents have a low side effect profile and have proven to be very effective, especially in combination. Patients may also chose the less invasive option of a vacuum erection device (VED), which are often successful in ED of any etiology(AU)

OBJETIVO: Explorar el mecanismo de acción, así como los riesgos y beneficios de dos modalidades de tratamiento de la disfunción eréctil (DE) populares y eficaces.La terapia con inyecciones intracavernosas (IIC) supone la inyección directa de agentes vasoactivos en el tejido cavernoso para facilitar la erección. Los agentes comúnmente prescritos incluyen PGE1 (alprostadil), papaverina y fentolamina. Aunque hay algunos riesgos asociados con una inadecuada técnica de inyección, estos agentes tienen un perfil bajo de efectos secundarios y han demostrado ser muy eficaces, especialmente en combinación. Los pacientes también pueden elegir la opción menos invasiva de un aparato de erección por vacío, que habitualmente son eficaces en DE sea cual sea la etiología(AU)

Dapoxetine, a novel selective serotonin transport inhibitor for the treatment of premature ejaculation.

Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common male sexual disorder, estimated to affect up to 30% of men. Over the past one or two decades, clinical investigators have participated in an increasing number of studies that are helping in our understanding of PE, which will undoubtedly facilitate future treatments. Apart from a number of behavioral approaches, the treatment of PE consists of primarily off-label use of oral selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) via either on-demand or daily delivery. However, various undesirable side-effects of these medications have led researchers to search for and develop new therapeutic approaches for PE. Dapoxetine is a short-acting SSRI developed specifically for the treatment of PE. Early trials with dapoxetine have documented successful outcomes without serious short- or long-term side-effects. This review addresses the definition, classification, diagnosis, physiology, and neurobiopathology of PE, and evaluates therapeutic strategies with novel treatments for PE.