For patients suffering from erectile dysfunction resistant to medical treatment, surgical implantation of a penile prosthesis is a potential therapeutic solution. At the urology department of the Liege University Hospital (CETISM), a psycho-sexologic interview is proposed to the man and his partner prior to performing the implantation procedure. This check up may likely reveal the false beliefs of both the man and his partner about the implant and can identify the patient's psychopathological disturbances, while further exploring the couple's relational, emotional, cognitive and erotic life, all of which can influence the psychological outcome of the implant. This consultation is meant to provide information regarding the prosthesis and identify the resources of the couple enabling them to rehabilitate an alive intimacy after surgery. This pre-intervention interview has been shown to optimize the satisfaction rates following penile prosthetic implantation.
In patients suffering from organic erectile dysfunction that proves resistant to medical treatment, penile implant is a reliable, efficient, and long-lasting third-line treatment option. Postoperative complications are well-codified and rather limited, if the intervention is performed by surgeons with implants expertise. In Belgium, the number of implantations is proportionally five times lower than in the USA, which can be accounted for by various factors including a lack of promotion and information of therapists, limited number of experimented "implanters", and lack of knowledge by patients who could benefit from the procedure. The overall management of this common sexual disorder using a penile implant is associated with high satisfaction rates for both the patients and their partners.
Nowadays, erectile dysfunction (ED) can only be managed with symptomatic treatments. Regenerative medicine, which is based on administering stem cells, has the potential to provide the first curative treatment for ED. Two types of stem cells were tested preclinically in animal models, namely mesenchymal (stromal) stem cells isolated from either bone marrow or adipose tissue. The application of both cell types yielded positive effects in various animal ED models. In acute animal models, such as cavernous nerve injury-induced ED, neither engraftment nor differentiation was observed, and stem cells are believed to interact with the host tissue in a paracrine fashion. In chronic disease models, some evidence suggested that engraftment and paracrine factors might boost function improvement. Clinical trials are currently enrolling patients so as to confirm the beneficial effects observed in rodents. If confirmed, this could pave the way for a broad use of stem cell therapy and thus revolutionize the treatment of ED.
In the space of 20 years, impotence has transformed into erectile insufficiency, a relevant clinical marker for quality of life, and more surprisingly, for poor men's health. Between the age of 30 and 65 years, it has been found to be a marker of both cardiovascular and overall mortality, which represents a major breakthrough and thus renders its proactive opportunistic screening unequally valuable. Any clinician dealing with chronic diseases, particularly cardiometabolic conditions or mood disorders, can no longer ignore the recommendation (Grade A, Level 1) to assess the physical and mental health status in terms of benefits for the primary prevention of acute cardiovascular events, but also for the secondary and tertiary prevention of chronic diseases.
The heart is not only a hollow muscle. Since very ancient times, the heart has been considered as the symbol of life, desire, and passion. True love and desire both require a great amount of psychic work in order to give up narcissism, and abandon both egocentricity and hold over the other. Under these conditions, and even more so when they are mutual, love and desire bring up a lot of happiness and jouissance. However, in the event of non-reciprocity, or breaking up of the relationship, they may entail serious physical and psychic decompensation (depression, sexual impotence, cardiomyopathy, etc.), and even death (suicide or murder).
Sexual intercourse results in a modest amount of energy expenditure comparable to that of mild-to-moderate physical exercise like brisk walking or climbing two flights of stairs (3-5 METS). The cardiovascular risk linked to sexual activity is therefore rather low, with some caution needed for cardiac patients. While sexual activity may be resumed as early as the first week after myocardial infarction, it is generally recommended to abstain from sexual intercourse for 6-8 weeks following open heart surgery. The issue of sexual activity in cardiac patients should be addressed at every medical visit, and the practitioner should deliver a message in line with official guidelines.
Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) are an effective and well-tolerated first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction. Cardiovascular risk associated with the use of PDE5i appears very low, and there is no convincing evidence that PDE5i increase the risk of myocardial infarction or CV death. However, given that little clinical data exist about the prescription of PDE5i after a recent CV event, it is advised not to prescribe PDE5i during 4 to 6 weeks following the event. Moreover, PDE5i should never be prescribed in patients receiving nitrates. After the intake of sildenafil or vardenafil, at least 24 hours should elapse before using nitrates. For tadalafil, this nitrate-free period is increased to 48 hours.
Sexual dysfunction is associated both with hypertension and its treatment. However, most studies focusing on undesirable sexual effects of antihypertensive drugs display significant methodological biases. It is nevertheless widely accepted that diuretics and most beta-blockers do worsen erectile dysfunction, whereas renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and alpha-blockers exert neutral or favorable effects. An open and empathic discussion of sexual problems, followed by the consultation of an urologist if necessary, is likely to influence the selection and acceptability of antihypertensive drug treatment, and to improve drug adherence, thereby preventing dramatic cardio- and cerebro-vascular complications without unacceptable effects on quality of life.
Erectile dysfunction: a sentinel symptom of a subclinical or beginning cardiovascular disease? Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects millions of men worldwide, and its implications reach far beyond sexual activity. Nowadays, ED is recognized as an early marker for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. While being an essential quality-of-life component, ED is also associated with an independent risk of future cardiovascular events. ED has a similar predictive value for cardiovascular events as traditional risk factors.