Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Surgery done for first time in Namibia
Erectile Dysfuntion (ED) affects 50% of men over the age of 40.
Henriette Lamprecht – In June this year a procedure to help with erectile dysfuntion (ED) was for the first time performed in Namibia. Although Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Surgery has been available for many years to patients that suffer from ED, it was the first time that five Namibian had the opportunity to get it done locally. The surgery was performed by dr. Emmanuel Johnson, an urologist, who in an interview says any man at some point in his life will experience ED.
“Quite a lot of people have it, but it is also quite a taboo subject. A person feels like less of a man when he can’t get an erection,” he explains.
Al lot of the time it could be due to spinal cord injuries or men that has unconfirmed conditions like diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure, smokes or suffers from alcoholism.
According to Johnson about 15% will have ED that does not respond to any treatment and for them the procedure is a relationship saver.
A step-ladder approach is used to treat ED, first starting will pills like Viagra.
A number of prescription medications are available to improve blood flow to the penis and encourage erections. Oral drug therapy is generally the first option for men experiencing impotence.
“If it is a reversible cause like cholesterol, it can of course be treated, but sometimes the damage is already done even if you bring down the cholesterol, you still can’t achieve erection.”
Referencing the step-ladder approach, Johnson says the first start is pills.
“We start with the pills, everybody knows Viagra. There are two others that are lesser known, but which is also effective.”
According to him the medication opens up the vessels and allows blood flow.
“If it doesn’t work, then you have the injectable which is injected directly into the penis which causes the erection which lasts for about two hours and then goes away.
If the medication and the injection fails or if you can’t tolerate the injection – not everybody likes sticking a needle down there – then thankfully we have this surgical procedure!”
Injection therapy refers to a small needle that is inserted into the side base of the penis and medication directly injected into the erectile chamber of the penis. These medications vasodilate, or increase the blood flow to the penis.
Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Surgery has been used for more than 40 years since its development in 1973. The procedure involves the placement of two soft plastic cylinders side by side into the shaft of the penis. A reservoir is inserted under the abdominal wall and filled with sterile water. This reservoir retains the fluid until the patient wants to inflate the cylinders to create an erection. A small pump is placed in the scrotum and is used to inflate or deflate the cylinders on demand. The pump moves the fluid between the penis cylinders and the hidden reservoirs. The surgery is performed through a small incision in the middle of the scrotum and generally takes 60 to 90 minutes.
“If you want an erection, you simply press the pump which has saline. The saline gets released and goes into the cylinder which fills it up for an erection. You can go on for as long as you like. When you are done and you ejaculate and if your partner is not satisfied, you can still keep the erection. When your partner is satisfied and you want to lose your erection, there is a button that you press and the water drains and goes back to the reservoir,” Johnson explains.
The average life span of the implant is 15 to 20 years and the satisfaction rate is from 90 to 95% which according to him is “pretty big!”
The procedure is done in a very sterile environment, limiting the number of people going in and out of the theatre, while patients are also scrubbed three time.
“If it gets infected, you have to take it out and allow the infection to heal which can take 3 to 6 months. The first 4 weeks is therefore critical. All selfcare as well as patient selection needs to be very well done. We do a blood test to see how well behaved you have been in the last six months.”
During the recovery period of 4 to 6 weeks, is important that the patient completely heals which also means no masturbation or sex as well as no migration of the cylinders so that it is fixed in its position.
“The recovery process is very important and the patient must follow all instructions and avoid all temptations to use it before it is ready.” – [email protected]
Did you know?
Half of men
ED affects 50% of men over the age of 40.
STATS
• approximately 40% of men are affected at age 40
• nearly 70% of men are affected at age 70.
• The prevalence of complete ED increased from 5% at age 40 to 15% at age 70.
• 152 million men worldwide suffer from ED.
• 322 million men will have ED by 2025 — a 207% increase
• Most new cases happening in developing nations in Africa, Asia, and South America.
“Quite a lot of people have it, but it is also quite a taboo subject. A person feels like less of a man when he can’t get an erection,” he explains.
Al lot of the time it could be due to spinal cord injuries or men that has unconfirmed conditions like diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure, smokes or suffers from alcoholism.
According to Johnson about 15% will have ED that does not respond to any treatment and for them the procedure is a relationship saver.
A step-ladder approach is used to treat ED, first starting will pills like Viagra.
A number of prescription medications are available to improve blood flow to the penis and encourage erections. Oral drug therapy is generally the first option for men experiencing impotence.
“If it is a reversible cause like cholesterol, it can of course be treated, but sometimes the damage is already done even if you bring down the cholesterol, you still can’t achieve erection.”
Referencing the step-ladder approach, Johnson says the first start is pills.
“We start with the pills, everybody knows Viagra. There are two others that are lesser known, but which is also effective.”
According to him the medication opens up the vessels and allows blood flow.
“If it doesn’t work, then you have the injectable which is injected directly into the penis which causes the erection which lasts for about two hours and then goes away.
If the medication and the injection fails or if you can’t tolerate the injection – not everybody likes sticking a needle down there – then thankfully we have this surgical procedure!”
Injection therapy refers to a small needle that is inserted into the side base of the penis and medication directly injected into the erectile chamber of the penis. These medications vasodilate, or increase the blood flow to the penis.
Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Surgery has been used for more than 40 years since its development in 1973. The procedure involves the placement of two soft plastic cylinders side by side into the shaft of the penis. A reservoir is inserted under the abdominal wall and filled with sterile water. This reservoir retains the fluid until the patient wants to inflate the cylinders to create an erection. A small pump is placed in the scrotum and is used to inflate or deflate the cylinders on demand. The pump moves the fluid between the penis cylinders and the hidden reservoirs. The surgery is performed through a small incision in the middle of the scrotum and generally takes 60 to 90 minutes.
“If you want an erection, you simply press the pump which has saline. The saline gets released and goes into the cylinder which fills it up for an erection. You can go on for as long as you like. When you are done and you ejaculate and if your partner is not satisfied, you can still keep the erection. When your partner is satisfied and you want to lose your erection, there is a button that you press and the water drains and goes back to the reservoir,” Johnson explains.
The average life span of the implant is 15 to 20 years and the satisfaction rate is from 90 to 95% which according to him is “pretty big!”
The procedure is done in a very sterile environment, limiting the number of people going in and out of the theatre, while patients are also scrubbed three time.
“If it gets infected, you have to take it out and allow the infection to heal which can take 3 to 6 months. The first 4 weeks is therefore critical. All selfcare as well as patient selection needs to be very well done. We do a blood test to see how well behaved you have been in the last six months.”
During the recovery period of 4 to 6 weeks, is important that the patient completely heals which also means no masturbation or sex as well as no migration of the cylinders so that it is fixed in its position.
“The recovery process is very important and the patient must follow all instructions and avoid all temptations to use it before it is ready.” – [email protected]
Did you know?
Half of men
ED affects 50% of men over the age of 40.
STATS
• approximately 40% of men are affected at age 40
• nearly 70% of men are affected at age 70.
• The prevalence of complete ED increased from 5% at age 40 to 15% at age 70.
• 152 million men worldwide suffer from ED.
• 322 million men will have ED by 2025 — a 207% increase
• Most new cases happening in developing nations in Africa, Asia, and South America.
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