All About Erectile Dysfunction and Penile Prosthesis Surgery

On this page, the answer to the question of what a penile prosthesis is is given in detail. A penile prosthesis or penile implant is a permanent solution that you should now consider in cases where natural or medical treatments are insufficient to treat the erectile dysfunction problem you are experiencing.

Erectile dysfunction, which negatively affects the quality of life of individuals, can occur for different reasons. It can occur as a result of conditions such as removal of the prostate for reasons such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, Peyronie’s disease (curvature of the penis), priapism (long-lasting erection), arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), prostate cancer, insufficient physical activity, smoking, as well as psychologically. Drugs such as sildenafil treat erectile dysfunction, but are not always beneficial. In this case, other non-surgical methods, such as penile injection and vacuum devices, are applied.

Urologists frequently ask this question. Penile prostheses placed in channels called corpus cavernosum, which fill the penis with blood and enable an erection to occur, offer a permanent solution in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Penile prostheses have two types: one-piece (malleable) and three-piece inflatable. One-piece prostheses are rigid, malleable rods; two are placed inside the penis, and hardening is achieved by manually turning them into an upright position. On the other hand, three-piece dentures are prostheses that can be inflated with the help of a pump and offer a natural hardening appearance.

What is a One-Piece Malleable Penile Prosthesis?

One-piece penile prostheses offer easy use thanks to their 135-degree wide bending angle. “What is a one-piece penile prosthesis?” The patients wonder about the answer to the question. One-piece penile prostheses are rigid and durable malleable rods implanted in pairs into the corpus cavernosum channels in the penis. These prostheses, which are practical and easy to use, provide hardening by placing them in an upright position by hand. They can be hidden in underwear and not be noticed outside when not in use.

One-piece penile prostheses, which have been used for more than 40 years, have varieties that come with a hydrophilic coating today. While the hydrophilic coating provides convenience to the doctor during surgery, it also protects the patient against the risk of infection. One-piece penile prostheses, which can be easily implanted into the penis thanks to their malleable structure, have options in different sizes and diameters. These prostheses, which offer long-term use since they do not have any mechanical parts, are preferred according to the needs of the patients.

What is a Three-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis

Erectile dysfunction patients, who do not benefit from other treatments have a high satisfaction rate, “What is a three-piece penile prosthesis?” They ask the question of urology doctors. The three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis has the highest satisfaction rate among prosthetic implantation treatments (92-100% in patients and 91-95% in partners)⁴, according to the guide prepared by the European Urology Association. The prosthesis’s parts, consisting of an inflatable pump placed in the testis, a fluid-filled reservoir placed in the abdomen, and two cylindrical parts placed in the corpus cavernosum channels, are connected by a particular tube system.

When it is desired to be used, due to the pump’s compression in the testis, the liquid in the reservoir fills into the cylinders and makes the hardening look natural. When they are not used, the liquid passes back to the reservoir thanks to the lowering button on the pump, and the hardening is terminated. The constant feeling of hardness in one-piece dentures is not found in three-piece dentures; therefore, it is frequently preferred. Varieties with hydrophilic coating protect the prosthesis and the patient against the risk of infection and contribute to the treatment process in case of possible infection, thanks to their antibiotic absorbent feature. On the anatomical structure of the patients, narrow-diameter widening varieties can be selected, and some varieties expand both transversely and longitudinally or only transversely.

Comparison of One-Piece and Three-Piece Penile Prosthesis

What are the Differences between a One-Piece Malleable Prosthesis?

One-piece prostheses are preferred by some patients in comparison to one-piece and three-piece penile prostheses, as they are more affordable in cost, there is no risk of deterioration, and they allow long-term use. Two one-piece prostheses are placed in the channels called corpus cavernosum, which is located in the penis and provides hardening by filling it with blood.

These prostheses are also known as penile prostheses and provide easy and practical use because they can be bent. There are two different types, Rigi10 and Rigi10 Hydrophilic. The Rigi10 has a 135-degree bending angle despite its durable and rigid structure. Rigi10 Hydrophilic comes with an additional hydrophilic coating. The hydrophilic coating allows easier prosthesis placement during surgery while preventing bacteria from adhering to the prosthesis surface and multiplying. The antibiotic absorbent property of the hydrophilic coating also contributes to the treatment process in case of a possible infection. Both types of one-piece prostheses offer lengths and diameters suitable for the patient.

What are the Differences between Three-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis and One-Piece Malleable Prosthesis?

Three-piece inflatable prostheses; consist of a pump, a reservoir, two cylindrical parts, and a unique tube system that connects these parts. For its use, by compressing the pump placed in the testis several times, the liquid in the reservoir placed in the abdomen fills the cylinders in the corpus. As a result of the movement of this fluid, a more natural-looking hardening is obtained compared to the one-piece prosthesis. To end the hardening, it is sufficient to press the lowering button on the pump. According to many people, three-piece prostheses, which have the highest satisfaction rate due to the comparison of one-piece and three-piece penile prostheses, are preferred. According to the guideline prepared by the European Association of Urology, the implantation of a three-piece penile prosthesis, which offers a satisfaction rate of 92-100% in patients and 91-95% in partners, takes a little longer and costs more than a one-piece prosthesis. There are Infla10 X, Infla10 AX, and Infla10 NarrowBody options by the anatomical needs of the patients. All of these variants come with a hydrophilic coating, while Infla10 X only expands transversely⁴ Infla10 AX expands both transversely and longitudinally. Infla10 NB can be used in patients with anatomically narrow corpus structures.

Which Penile Prosthesis Should I Prefer?

Patients who do not get results from other treatments for erectile dysfunction should consult a specialist urology physician. Patients determined to be suitable for the prosthesis should compare one-piece and three-piece penile prostheses in terms of cost/benefit ratio and choose the suitable prosthesis. When choosing a prosthesis, the patient must first decide whether they want a one-piece or three-piece prosthesis. After deciding on the type of prosthesis, the prosthesis model suitable for the patient’s anatomical structure should be decided in consultation with the urology physician.

Some of the penile prosthesis operations are covered by insurance. You can contact Rigicon via the “Information Communication Form” on the rigicon.com website to learn about the insurance payment terms. “What is the penile prosthesis used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction?” Patients who want more detailed information about the question can consult a urologist.

Radulovic Jovica
Radulovic Jovica

I started my career at websta.me following the completion of my studies in Agricultural Economics at the University of Belgrade. My fascination with this field arose from recognizing the pivotal role marketing plays in companies' business strategies.

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