Ambicor 2-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis: Who and How?

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Devices
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• The Ambicor is the sole 2-piece inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) currently available in the United States.
• Its design eliminates a separate reservoir, offering potential benefits for both patients and surgeons.
• Despite advantages, the Ambicor represents a small fraction of all IPPs implanted domestically.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate the surgical implantation technique for the Ambicor 2-piece IPP.
• To identify ideal patient candidates for Ambicor implantation.
• To review common and rare complications associated with the device.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a PubMed literature search for peer-reviewed articles on the Ambicor 2-piece IPP.
• Supplemented literature review with two decades of clinical experience with the Ambicor.
• Focused on English-language publications.

Main Results:

• Published data on the Ambicor remain limited, with few recent publications.
• Reported overall complication rates vary between 2.1% and 9.5%.
• Patient and partner satisfaction rates are high, ranging from 75% to 96.4%.

Conclusions:

• The Ambicor 2-piece IPP is a viable option for patients with erectile dysfunction unresponsive to conservative treatments.
• It may be preferred by surgeons who wish to avoid blind retropubic reservoir placement or ectopic approaches.
• Ideal candidates include those with current/future organ transplants, limited dexterity, or extensive prior abdominal surgery.