Penile Stent

The treatment of an inability to have or maintain an erection long enough to have satisfying intercourse lies mainly in treating any underlying condition causing it. There are various medications and supplements to improve erection and strengthen sexual desire. If erectile dysfunction (ED) medications fail, placing a penile stent might be a solution.

What is penile stent?

A Penile stent can help men to treat erectile dysfunction. Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a condition that is widespread among men above age 40 globally and a penile stent is the solution for many.

Uses of penile stent

A Penile stent surgery is a procedure that helps men with erectile dysfunction who have not responded or haven’t responded as required to other treatments. Placing a penile stent includes placing an artificial device inside the penis, which helps to achieve an erection and restore sexual function.

The benefits of penile stents

The success rate of a penile stent or penis stent exceeds 97%. There are different types of stents to make its use functional and comfortable for those using it. Which one is suitable for you? This matter should be thoroughly discussed with your treating physician.

Things you should know when you are considering placing a penile stent;

• The penile stent surgery does not change any of the characteristics of the penis itself in terms of general shape, sensation and pleasure. The surgery does not replace normal tissues but adds rigidity when necessary.
• The penis contains two cylinders named the cavernous bodies; these fill with blood to cause the penis to be stiff an erect. The male urethra runs between these cavernous bodies. There are nerves and blood vessels that run at the back of the cavernous bodies and penile skin which are responsible for sexual sensations and pleasure. Stiffness is regulated by the cavernous bodies and their blood vessels. In severe erectile dysfunction the blood flow is impaired (this could be due to multiple factors). In such cases the penis stent forms a solution! The cavernous cylinders or cavernous bodies are filled with stents.
• The implantation of the penis pillar (stent) is a minor procedure that lasts from around 20 min to an hour.

Duration of Hospital stay

The placement of a penile stent is an outpatient procedure which means usually you can leave the hospital on the same day unless your doctor recommends otherwise.

The success rates of penile stent operations are very high depending of course on the hospital hygiene and sterilization methods and experience of the operating surgeon.

Global statistics report high and high levels of healing and satisfaction for penile stent surgeries.

Types of penile stent

​

The stents of the penis are divided into two main sections:

Solid stent

A Semi rigid penile stent consists of two rods that are placed inside the penis to allow men with erectile dysfunction (ED) to get an erection. Penile implants are usually the last step of treatment after other treatments for ED fail. A Semirigid penile implant is bent upward for sex and toward the body for concealment under clothing.

Hydraulic stent

Inflatable penile stents are devices placed inside the penis to allow men with erectile dysfunction (ED) to get an erection. Penile implants are usually recommended after other treatments for ED have been tried and failed Inflatable implants are devices that can be inflated to create an erection and deflated at other times. The implants use a fluid-filled reservoir implanted under the abdominal wall, a pump and a release valve placed inside the scrotum, and two inflatable cylinders inside the penis. To achieve an erection, you pump the fluid, which is salt water, from the reservoir into the cylinders. After intercourse the valve inside the scrotum is released to drain the fluid back into the reservoir. The reservoir is filled with salt water on the day of surgery and stays in the device.

Penile stents disadvantages

As mentioned earlier the implantation of a penile stent is a minor our patient procedure. Minor complications or drawbacks include;

• Mild pain in the penis or a burning sensation during urination. These discomforts are mainly caused by the catheter that is placed during surgery and might agitate the prostate causing difficulty in urination and a burning sensation or is due to swelling of urethral tissue after surgery. These complaints could last anywhere from 10 days to a month
• Delayed ejaculation is either a complaint or a benefit to patients depending on their ejaculation time prior to placing the stent.