Using Vacuum Erection Devices for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction Following Radical Prostatectomy: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

The number of men diagnosed worldwide with prostate cancer (PC) has increased, and the age of patients diagnosed correspondingly has decreased. Men who undergo treatment for PC (particularly those who undergo surgical management) can subsequently be affected by erectile dysfunction (ED). This ED may be in combination with pre-existing impotence and/or due to the multifactorial aetiology of this condition; the management of ED is complicated and includes treatments, either alone or in combination, such as herbal and prescribed medications, surgery, counselling, and the use of vacuum erection device (VED). The aim of this focused literature review is to understand men's experience of using a VED after radical prostatectomy (RP) and to highlight key findings for future clinical practice to guide and improve the services for men. Suitable papers relating to men using VED for their ED following RP were identified by performing an electronic database search using appropriate MeSH terms; suitable papers were critically reviewed using the CASP tool, and relevant themes were extracted. Analysis of the literature concluded that VED is an important and useful tool in erectile function recovery post-RP, especially in combination with PDE5i. Six key themes were identified from the literature and are discussed in detail. The themes are VED as a treatment modality, effects of VED on penile length, effects of VED on penetration and intercourse, adverse events, and patients' selection and implications for clinical practice.