Intra cavernous injection of PGE1: Tolerance and quality of life among long-term treated patients.
Benjamin, Alexandre1, Antoine, Lemaire*,1, Pierre, Desvaux2, 1 adirs, Lille, France, France2 Hopital Cochin, Paris, France, France
ABSTRACT- Backgrounds: nowadays in France more patients received intracavernous injections for erectile dysfunction (ED) ;Within 4 years , the number of treated patients significantly increased . However lots of doctors and patients still hesitate to take this treatment or postpone it Objectives: the aim of this study is to evaluate the facility of use, tolerance and quality of life of patients treated by IIC in France Methods: 5000 questionnaires were given to GP or specialists for patients who have received PGE1 IIC for at least three months; 695 questionnaires were returned. Questions related patients features and medical history, the use of the IIC and their effectiveness, the impact on life and satisfaction felt by the patient and the partner. Results: The mean age of the patients was 62,4 years. 77% were "Married or living together as husband and wife". The patients were suffering from treated prostate cancer or in the course of treatment for 39%, arterial hypertension for 32%, cholesterol excess and/or triglycerides for 28 % and diabetes for 24%. The patients had presented ED for 60,5 months,. They used IIC for 33 months on average. The 10 microg dose was used by 45 % of the patients, and in 54% 20 microg was the effective dose; these IIC were used at least twice a month for 92% . Injection and erection pain were evaluated on an analogical visual scale and regarded as negligible to weak. The IIC were always effective for 57% of the patients and more than once out of two for 81%. Most of the patients were satisfied with the time of action onset (85%) and durability (81%) of the IIC. While using IIC, 81% of the patients felt more confident to have sexual relation, and 74% thought that the partner was satisfied with the treatment; only 8 % of the partners wished to stop the treatment. Since the beginning of the treatment, 70% felt that their sexual life was rather better, and 91% that the relation with the partner was rather better (50%) or unchanged (41%). Finally 50% found their moral improved .. Conclusion: this survey demonstrates that a regular use of treatment by IIC of PGE1 fully satisfy the patients in term of effectiveness, facility of use, tolerance and improvement of sexual life and life of the couple. These results must encourage the doctors and patients to use these treatments , particularly in second intention after failure or contraindication of PDE5 ©±
Key words: erection, treatment, injection, PGE1, quality of life