Venous surgery in erectile dysfunction: therapeutic strategy and results

The therapeutic rationale of venous surgery is to create an effective obstacle to the pathologically increased venous outflow, determined by an intrinsic pathology of the cavernous bodies. In the last 15 years, many techniques have been proposed, and our therapeutic approach has evolved with our knowledge of penile haemodynamics. Up to October 1990, we performed 316 operations for the relief of impotence. In a 2-year follow-up our recurrence rates were as follows: DDV plus corporpexy (n = 50): 26% (n = 13); DDV plus crura plication (n = 34): 47% (n = 16); DDV plus collateral vein ligation (n = 48): 62.5% (n = 30).