Penile Implants

Abstract

Although it is estimated that nearly 20 million Americans suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), the true prevalence of this disorder is unknown (1). Worldwide studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of ED increases with age. The overall population growth, an increase in the elderly population, the introduction of effective oral medications for ED, and the intensified public awareness and education may result in a higher rate of seeking and using treatment (2). Patients with severe end organ failure who do not respond to any nonsurgical therapy will eventually be candidates for penile prosthesis. Although the percentage of such patients compared to the total number of patients with ED may be small, penile prosthesis implantation will remain a viable option because of the large patient base. Vendors claim that sales of penile prostheses have been relatively stable in the last decade. Since the introduction of penile prosthesis implantation to treat male ED in the 1970s, the modifications and improvements of penile prostheses have remarkably improved the device’s reliability, longevity, and the prosthetic surgery outcome (3). In this chapter, we review different penile prostheses available in the United States and their clinical indications.