Is deep dorsal vein arterialization effective in elderly patients?

OBJECTIVE: Arterialization operations of the penis are recommended for young patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). In this study, we investigated the efficiency of deep dorsal vein arterialization (DDVA) in carefully selected healthy elderly patients PATIENTS AND METHODS: An initial extensive evaluation with corpus cavernosum electromyography, cavernosometry, and penile doppler ultrasonography was performed for 43 elderly patients with ED for whom the presence of risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking habit, psychiatric or neurologic disorders, liver or kidney failure, and history of major trauma) had been ruled out. All patients underwent to DDVA using the Furlow-Fisher technique. Surgical outcome was tested postoperatively by use of the fifteen-item International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-15). Surgical success was assumed if the score in the five-item version of the IIEF (IIEF-5) had increased by at least five points. RESULTS: Of the patients, 21 were detected to have caverno-occlusive disease, 13 had arteriogenic disease, and 9 had both caverno-occlusive and arteriogenic disease. The mean age of the patients was 59.7+/-4.6 years and the mean follow-up time was 22.1+/-7.1 months. The operation was successful in 26 cases (60.5%) according to IIEF-5. Total IIEF-15 score was increased from 19.2+/-5.0 to 28.5+/-9.4 (P<0.05). Significant increases were observed in the erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction domains of IIEF-15. The preoperative degree of ED or the etiology of ED had no impact on the surgical results. Percent changes in the total IIEF-15 score and in its domains were no different between patients aged <60 and those aged >or=60. CONCLUSION: DDVA could successfully be performed for carefully selected elderly patients as long as the presence of risk factors for ED are ruled out.