Prognostic value of penile color Doppler ultrasonography for recovering erectile function after radical prostatectomy

Abstract Objective To analyze the predictive utility of penile color Doppler ultrasonography after the injection of vasoactive agents for recovering erectile function after radical prostatectomy. Material and methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients with erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy who were treated with intracavernous injections of prostaglandins E1 between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2012. The study included patients with no history of erectile dysfunction prior to the surgery and who did not respond to medical treatment. Color Doppler was performed on all patients after the intracavernous injection. A peak systolic velocity ≥30 cm/s and an end diastolic velocity ≤5 cm/s were considered normal hemodynamic values. We assessed the result of the treatment during the follow-up using the International Index of Erectile Function-5. Results We included 197 patients. The mean age was 60.8 (±6.3). The pathological diagnosis for all patients was adenocarcinoma, 74.1% of which were confined to the organ (T1–T2/Nx–N0). Treatment with injections after the surgery was started after a mean duration of 6.8 months (+3.5). The Doppler ultrasonography results were normal for 53 patients (26.9%). During the follow-up, 113 patients (57.4%) maintained functional erections; 55 of these patients (28%) did not require injections. Normal Doppler ultrasonography results were associated with a favorable response to treatment ( p Conclusions The prostaglandin E1 test will help provide a diagnosis in erectile dysfunction for patients who have undergone prostatectomies. The test helps provide information on the vascular condition of the penis and useful prognostic information for the follow-up of these patients.