Peyronie's disease: corporoplasty using saphenous vein patch graft

Objective: To establish who the best candidates for corporoplasty are. The standard guidelines include patients with partial erections, and/or recurvature preventing normal and satisfying intercourse. In our unit we prefer to implant prostheses even in patients with slight erectile dysfunction, therefore patients with full erections routinely undergo corporoplasty.

Materials and methods: We report our experience with corporoplasty using a vein patch graft after plaque incision or excision in 12 patients affected by Peyronie's disease.

Results: The operation is easy to perform. Recovery of normal spontaneous erectile activity was observed in 10/12 (83%) patients at a mean of 1 month postoperatively. The results of checkups with Rigiscan and EchocolorDoppler have confirmed the stability of the graft and recovery of potency.

Discussion: Autologous material is easy to harvest and it is elastic enough to support traction during erection. The patch can be modelled to fashion patches in any shape required. The risk of scar shrinkage, with the consequent onset of recurvature, is lower than with other materials such as Gore-tex or Derma. Corporoplasty ensured rapid rehabilitation of sexual functions in all patients. We do not usually perform the Nesbit procedure as shortening of the penis (which is characteristic of Peyronie's disease) would, in most patients, be accentuated by albuginea plication.