Long term followup on Inflatable Penile Prosthesis
by Debo and group, a multi centered study. Average time for re-intervention for implant malfunction was 50 months, a little over 4 yours. Average time for re-intervention for infection was 18 months which occurred in 11%, and a patient dissatisfaction rate of 34%.
This study is of course at variance with what manufacturers say. Their classic explanation is if the Doctors don’t tell us, how are we to know. I do believe our experience is quite a bit better than that, but our office is not a training center. Last week, I removed an implant that had been implanted in May, 1987, the implant had been operational for 22 years. Patient did receive radiotherapy afterwards for prostatic carcinoma.
Harold M. Reed, M.D.