There are currently several different treatments that can be used for patients who are diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. One of the most common treatments is the administration of drugs, specifically phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors). PDE5 inhibitors are currently considered as the first line of therapy for patients who have erectile dysfunction as indicated by the American Urological Association (AUA), and some include sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), tadalafil (Cialis), and avandafil (Stendra) (1). The mechanism of how PDE5 inhibitors work is a recent discovery. Nitric oxide (NO) is released in the endothelial cells of the corpus cavernosum, which in turn activates guanylate cyclase to create cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) to cause increase blood flow to the penis. The structure of PDE5 inhibitors is very similar to cGMP, thus administering PDE5 would enhance the effects of NO to cause a prolonged erection in the smooth muscle cells of the penis (2).
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The most common of these are vascular reconstruction surgery. This can be conducted to help improve blood flow to the penis, or reduce the leakage of blood away from the penis to maintain an erection (3). Studies have also found embolization of external and internal pudendal veins guided by interventional radiology have shown to be effective in reducing the leakage of blood from the penis from patients who have erectile dysfunction (8). This operation is minimally invasive, which can be very favorable for many patients. Erectile dysfunction has also shown to be common in patients who undergo a radical prostatectomy. A recent study of using sural nerve grafts to bridge together the femoral and dorsal nerve of 10 patients with erectile dysfunction from previous radical prostatectomies showed improved sexual intercourse, based on erectile dysfunction index questionnaires
The most common of these are vascular reconstruction surgery. This can be conducted to help improve blood flow to the penis, or reduce the leakage of blood away from the penis to maintain an erection (3). Studies have also found embolization of external and internal pudendal veins guided by interventional radiology have shown to be effective in reducing the leakage of blood from the penis from patients who have erectile dysfunction (8). This operation is minimally invasive, which can be very favorable for many patients. Erectile dysfunction has also shown to be common in patients who undergo a radical prostatectomy. A recent study of using sural nerve grafts to bridge together the femoral and dorsal nerve of 10 patients with erectile dysfunction from previous radical prostatectomies showed improved sexual intercourse, based on erectile dysfunction index questionnaires