Most patients prefer to have their new penile implant devices placed by a surgeon with a significant deal of expertise and training. General urologists can conduct penile implant procedures with exceptional outcomes. However, the rate of complications can increase when the surgeon is inexperienced with this kind of surgery (1).
In the event of a complicated penile implant revision procedure, the case is best handled by experienced surgeons. Some of these complex cases may be indicated by penis scarring from priapism, prior prosthesis placement, complications post-surgery, and removal of the implant because of an infection.
Possible Penile Implant Malfunction
A penile implant is a mechanical device that can break down at any moment (2). For instance, the system’s fluid could escape in case of a cylinder tear or tubing leak. The penile prosthesis may also cease to inflate or deflate. If a device malfunctions and there is no infection, there are a few options for rectifying this.
You could choose to do nothing, remove the implant, or get a penile implant replacement. Many men, particularly those who wish to stay sexually active, want a penile implant revision operation. They seek to have the implant replaced with another penile prosthesis. The surgery involves removing and replacing all the components of an inflatable penile prosthesis.
There can be different reasons for a flaw that can be solved without implant replacement. For example, in a recent examination, it was revealed that an implant may fail to inflate properly. During the operation, it was observed that under the skin, a cylinder was left exposed. The cylinders are put in structures known as corporal bodies.
Oversized Cylinders
In the last decade, urologists have adopted a trend, particularly high-volume prosthesis surgeons, with sponsorship. They put cylinders inside the penis, whose length goes beyond what space can allow. The cylinders are then made to fit when deflated.
The idea is that the inflated cylinders stretch the penis and the penile length would be longer during sexual intercourse. One possible challenge with that method is that it can result in extrusions of one of the two cylinders affecting the tissues found under the skin. Under such circumstances, an extremely complex revision operation must be done.
Deformity Resulting from Penile Prosthesis Aneurysm
The development of an unusual dilation of a part of the cylinder may occur as a late effect of an inflatable prosthesis. An aneurysm happens when a section of the cylinder is weakened (3). It can result in bulging as the implant is inflated. When an aneurysm is diagnosed depending on physical examination and history, an implant replacement is recommended. It is in case the bulging is linked to compromised usage.
Erosion of the Penile Implant
When the tubing or cylinder of the system is eroded, then the prosthesis is said to be infected. In this case, observation is a viable option. The reasonable approach would be to remove or replace them with adequate antibiotics use. During surgery, a washout approach is adopted, along with the use of irrigation procedures in the affected area.
New Penile Implant Devices Work Best
The satisfactory rate among men with penile prosthesis is encouraging. However, in case you are experiencing any problems after your surgery, you must notify your doctor.
Links to Sources Used:
- Clinical Outcome: Patient and Partner Satisfaction after Penile Implant Surgery https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6872984/
- Malfunctioned and Fractured Penile Prosthesis Caused by Cross Placement: Case Report https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4714312/
- A cylinder aneurysm of a penile prosthesis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21567276/