Sexual rehabilitation after nerve sparing radicalretropubic prostatectomy: a randomised prospectivestudy on vacuum device vs. alprostadil

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of rehabilitation of sexual function in pts.who underwent Nerve Sparing Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy (NS-RRP) for prostate cancer. Materials and methods. 51 patients underwent NS-RRP. After surgery patients were randomised in two different rehabilitation treatments or included in a control group: group A was treated with alprostadil and sildenafil; group B with vacuum device and sildenafil; group C did not receive rehabilitation. After treatment patients were reassessed by sexual history and IIEF, and data compared. Results. 12 patients (63%) from group A and 11 (68%) from group B reported spontaneous recovery of sexual activity. Mean IIEF score was 24 for group A and group B, whereas for group C was 9.5. Conclusions. The group B showed the same rate of recovery of erections of the group A. The use of vacuum represents a valid alternative to alprostadil during rehabilitation and also after rehabilitation has been completed