The role of computerized tomography angiography in the management of cases undergoing penile revascularization due to erectile dysfunction: prospective cohort study

Abstract

Background In this study, the role and efficiency of computerized tomography angiography (CTA) in the postoperative management of patients with penile revascularization were evaluated. Methods Between 2014 and 2018, penile revascularization surgery was performed in 78 patients who presented with the complaint of erectile dysfunction (ED). The mean age of the patients was 47.17 ± 13.26 (23–69) years. Patients with a regular sexual partner and relationship, who hadn’t benefitted from medical treatment and who had ED complaints for at least three months were included in the study. The cases were divided into three groups according to their age (20–40, 41–60, and > 61 years). All the cases were evaluated preoperatively using the five and 15-item International Index of Erectile Dsysfunction (IIEF-5 and IIEF-15) questionnaire, cavernosometry, corpus cavernosum electromyography, and penil color doppler ultrasonography. At the postoperative third month, IIEF 5–15 questionnaire was repeated and anastomotic patency was evaluated by performing CTA scanning. Results CTA performed at the postoperative third month revealed anastomosis patency in 56. In 22 cases, the anastomosis area could not be observed. Among the patients with anastomosis patency, the rate of the IIEF-5 increase in the postoperative period was between 35.0 and 80.8%, while in those patients without anostomotic patency, the increase rate of IIEF-5 were between 12.5 and 23.3%. Increases in the IIEF-5 and IIEF-15 questionnaire scores were found to be significantly higher in the group in which anastomotic patency was observed on CTA compared to remaining patients. Conclusion The CTA results and changes in the IIEF rates after penile revascularization had a high correlation. Anastomotic patency with CTA can guide the timing of more invasive procedures such as penile prosthesis implantation.