Penile prosthesis: patient teaching and perioperative care

As more options become available for treating erectile dysfunction (ED), more men are seeking treatment. Despite excellent efficacy of available medical management, a percentage of these patients will be refractory to the less invasive options for treatment, leaving the surgical implantation of a penile prosthesis as their remaining option for definitive treatment of ED. The patient seeking penile prosthesis surgery faces many challenges as he proceeds through the perioperative processes. A thorough understanding of indications, preoperative assessment and teaching, intraoperative procedure, and postoperative care and teaching for the patient receiving a penile prosthesis will enable him to achieve the best possible outcome.