Purpose: To determine the long-term results of the DPVL for the treatment of venous impotence.
Patients and methods: The long term results of DPVL in 134 patients were interviewed. The mean age was 39.2 (range 21-72). Power color doppler imaging, pharmacocavernography/dynamic cavernosometry were performed. Postoperatively, all the patients were controlled in the 6th month, first year and, if possible, once a year. The mean follow-up was 54.8 (14-76) months. Postoperative outcomes were classified into three groups: complete spontaneous erection (CR), response to pharmacotherapy (PR) or no satisfactory improvement (NR).
Results: The short-term success in the 6th month according to above mentioned was 38.8%, 18.6% and 42.5%; and in the first year was 19.4%, 14.9% and 65.6% respectively. The result in 35 patients whose follow-up was at least 5 years (mean 67 months) was 11.4%, 14.3% and 74.3% respectively. Positive prognostic factors were preoperative age <40, duration of erectile dysfunction <2 years, non-smoker patients, non neurogenic disease and distal disease. With all these parameters present, long-term success (CR, PR) rose from 33.6% to 55.9% (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Long-term success for unselected patients undergoing DPVL is disappointing; however, careful patient selection significantly improves long-term results.