What is it about?
The Problem: Many men have severe "venous leakage." For them, taking pills like sildenafil (Viagra) doesn't work because the blood leaks out of the penis faster than the drug can bring it in. The Solution: The study investigates performing Penile Venous Stripping (surgery) to physically repair the leak first. The "Synergy": The findings show that after the physical leak is fixed by surgery, oral sildenafil becomes effective again. The two treatments work together ("synergism") to produce a better erection than either could achieve alone.
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Why is it important?
Hope for "Non-Responders": It provides a vital option for men who have been told that pills don't work for them and that a penile implant is their only remaining choice. Maximizing Natural Function: It focuses on restoring the body's natural ability to achieve an erection by combining anatomical repair with pharmacological support, rather than jumping straight to artificial devices. Defining the Role of Surgery: It clarifies that surgery isn't always a standalone "cure-all," but a crucial step that resets the anatomy so other treatments can work.
Perspectives
The Patient's View: "Viagra used to work, then it stopped. I thought I was broken. The surgery fixed the leak, and now the medication works perfectly again. I have my life back." The Surgeon's View (Dr. Hsu): We shouldn't view treatments as "either/or." ED is complex. By fixing the anatomical defect (the leak) surgically, we unlock the full potential of medical therapy. 1+1 equals 3 here.
Professor Geng-Long Hsu
Microsurgical Potency Reconstruction and Research Center, Hsu’s Andrology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The synergism of penile venous surgery and oral sildenafil in treating patients with erectile dysfunction, International Journal of Andrology, October 2005, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2005.00554.x.
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