The Use of Vacuum Devices as Adjuvant Therapy before and after Penile Curvature Surgery in Patients Affected by La Peyronie's Disease: Results from a Comparative Study

Background: Peyronie's disease (PD) represents a challenging urological disease, due to not optimal post-operative surgical outcomes. We aim to retrospectively evaluate if vacuum erection device (VED) treatment before penile curvature surgery is able to improve post-operative surgical outcomes. Methods: All enrolled patients were assigned to the following groups: (a) the treatment group: VED treatment (three times per week) starting 3 months before surgery and (three times per week) one month after surgery; and (b) the control group: VED treatment (three times per week) one month after surgery. Follow-up urologic visits were scheduled for 3 and 6 months after surgery, and the two groups were compared. Results: A total of 38 patients were enrolled (median age 67 years, 57-74, IQR): 20 in the treatment group and 18 in the control group. At the follow-up visits, the two groups were different in terms of IIEF-5 (26 vs. 24; p = 0.02), yes to SEP2 and 3 (85% vs. 55%; p < 0.001, 85% vs. 50%; p < 0.001, respectively), and PDQ (-16 vs. -11; p = 0.03). Complete correction of penile curvature was achieved in 36 patients (94.7%). In the treatment group, no hourglass deformity was reported, whereas one patient reported a mild hourglass deformity in the control group. In the treatment group, we obtained a longer total penile length (median +1.5 cm). The overall satisfaction rate was 98% in the treatment group and 96% in the control group. Conclusions: The VED treatment before penile curvature surgery in patients affected by PD was able to improve surgical outcomes.

Automated summary

This study retrospectively evaluated the use of vacuum erection device (VED) treatment before penile curvature surgery in patients with Peyronie's disease (PD) to improve surgical outcomes. The results showed that VED treatment improved erectile function, sexual satisfaction, and severity of the disease after surgery. Complete correction of penile curvature was achieved in most cases, with no reported hourglass deformity in the treatment group.