A purely penoscrotal approach: Reservoir placement of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) in an orthotopic neobladder patient. Case report

Introduction: The inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is the last step in drug-resistant erectile dysfunction treatment. IPP implantation can be challenging, especially following a cystoprostatectomy with an orthotopic neobladder. There is no consensus about surgical techniques for placement of an IPP reservoir in such patients. In this paper, we present a case of an IPP and reservoir placement with a single penoscrotal incision.
Case: A 55-year-old patient, who underwent radical cysto-prostatectomy with an orthotopic neobladder seven years ago, presented with severe erectile dysfunction. His oncologic status was stable, and he was in remission. He also had high blood pressure and took medication for it. He previously used different medical treatments, such as oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i), intraurethral prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) installations, and Trimix injections. As far as we know, he had no benefit from these treatments. A three-piece IPP was recom- mended. After a discussion of surgical techniques, we chose the penoscrotal approach, and the ectopic reservoir was placed through the inguinal canal, guided by a forefinger. Results: The total operative time was 60 minutes, and the estimated blood loss was minimal. There were no perioperative complications. The patient was discharged on postoperative day one. He could start to use the IPP in the first month. His sexual and urinary functions were normal, and there was no abdominal bulging from the ectopic reservoir at the three-month follow-up.
Conclusions: In conclusion, ectopic placement of the reservoir through a single penoscrotal incision appears to be a safe and acceptable surgical technique for postoperative ED following a radical cystoprostatectomy with an orthotopic neobladder.