The Prevention and Management of Noninfectious Complications of Penile Implants

IntroductionPenile implants have been a mainstay in the treatment of erectile dysfunction for more than four decades. The satisfaction rate with the functioning of these devices has been very high. Problems can develop with the device itself or with the tissues surrounding it. Knowledge of preventing and managing these adverse events is critical to a successful outcome and sustained patient satisfaction.AimA narrative of the prevention and management of noninfectious complications of penile implant placement gained from the author's extensive experience is presented.MethodsEach category of penile implant complications is presented as a separate subtitle. The initial categories are intraoperative problems; the subsequent groups involve postoperative adverse events.Main Outcome MeasureTo gather information for this manuscript, I reviewed 40 publications and found 32 relevant and helpful.ResultsAttending to the details necessary for proper placement of prosthetic parts during the initial surgery will minimize the chance of problems developing. Prompt attention to postoperative problems will thwart their progression to a more extensive adverse situation, which will be more difficult to remedy.ConclusionsComplications during penile implant placement and in the postoperative period may occur. Knowledge of maneuvers to avoid their occurrence and prompt attention to correcting problems as they arise are paramount to a successful outcome and to maintaining high satisfaction rates. Mulcahy JJ. The prevention and management of noninfectious complications of penile implants. Sex Med Rev 2015;3:203–213.