Immediate preoperative blood glucose and hemoglobin a1c levels are not predictive of postoperative infections in diabetic men undergoing penile prosthesis placement

Int J Impot Res. 2021 Apr;33(3):296-302. doi: 10.1038/s41443-020-0261-5. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Abstract

Defining the risks associated with diabetes mellitus in patients undergoing penile prosthesis implantation remains controversial. Our study aims to assess whether preoperative hemoglobin a1c and preoperative blood glucose levels are associated with an increased risk for postoperative infection in diabetic men. We performed a retrospective review of 932 diabetic patients undergoing primary penile prosthesis implantation from 18 high-volume penile prosthesis implantation surgeons throughout the United States, Germany, Belgium, and South Korea. Preoperative hemoglobin a1c and blood glucose levels within 6 h of surgery were collected and assessed in univariate and multivariate models for correlation with postoperative infection, revision, and explantation rates. The primary outcome is postoperative infection and the secondary outcomes are postoperative revision and explantation. In all, 875 patients were included in the final analysis. There were no associations between preoperative blood glucose levels or hemoglobin a1c levels and postoperative infection rates; p = 0.220 and p = 0.598, respectively. On multivariate analysis, a history of diabetes-related complications was a significant predictor of higher revision rates (p = 0.034), but was nonsignificant for infection or explantation rates. We conclude preoperative blood glucose levels and hemoglobin a1c levels are not associated with an increased risk for postoperative infection, revision, or explantation in diabetic men undergoing penile prosthesis implantation.

MeSH terms

  • Belgium
  • Blood Glucose
  • Diabetes Mellitus* / epidemiology
  • Germany
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Penile Implantation* / adverse effects
  • Penile Prosthesis* / adverse effects
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Republic of Korea
  • Retrospective Studies
  • United States

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A