Abstract
Purpose: The response to sildenafil after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) has been reported to be approximately 40% by the Sildenafil Study Group. We undertook a study in a large cohort of post-RRP erectile dysfunction (ED) patients in order to examine the relationship between satisfaction with sildenafil and time from surgery to start of sildenafil treatment.
Methods: Pre- and post-operative erectile function was assessed by the O'Leary Brief Sexual Function Inventory questionnaire. Patient satisfaction with sildenafil before and after sildenafil treatment was assessed by the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire. Between April and October 1998, EDITS questionnaires were given to 579 patients who had undergone RRP between 1994 and 1998. 316 (55%) patients returned questionnaires. Of these, 198 (63%) had sildenafil treatment and completed post-treatment questionnaires and were included in the study group.
Results: In the study group, mean age was 61 y. Pre-operatively, 92% had erections sufficient for vaginal penetration, 95% had bilateral nerve-sparing (NS) RRP. There was a significant increase in the treatment satisfaction rate with increasing time from surgery. Between zero and six months after surgery, the treatment satisfaction rate was 26%, which improved with time, peaking at 60% between 18 months and 2 y. Self-perceived erectile function as determined by post-RRP pre-sildenafil treatment O'Leary questionnaires was not as predictive of response to sildenafil as time from surgery.
Conclusions: The response to sildenafil appears to be dependent upon the interval between RRP and the start of sildenafil. The treatment satisfaction rate was found to peak at 60% between 18 months and 2 y. Early nonresponders to sildenafil should not be disheartened, as they will more likely later respond.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 8 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $32.38 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hong, E., Lepor, H. & McCullough, A. SSI Prize Essay for Male Erectile Dysfunction—Clinical ‘Time dependent patient satisfaction with sildenafil for erectile dysfunction (ED) after nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP)’. Int J Impot Res 11 (Suppl 1), S15–S22 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900466
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900466
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Understanding Prostate Cancer in Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women: A Review of the Literature
Current Sexual Health Reports (2019)
-
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of postoperative nightly sildenafil citrate for the prevention of erectile dysfunction after bilateral nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy
International Journal of Impotence Research (2008)
-
Sexual function after permanent 125I-brachytherapy for prostate cancer
International Journal of Impotence Research (2005)
-
Erectile dysfunction and treatment of carcinoma of the prostate
Current Urology Reports (2005)
-
Specific aspects of erectile function in urology/andrology
International Journal of Impotence Research (2004)