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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffRisks of penile implant surgery include:
- Infection. As with any surgery, infection is a possibility. You may be at an increased risk of infection if you have a spinal cord injury or diabetes. Men who need surgery to adjust or replace an implant (revision surgery) are at higher risk of infection than they were with the first surgery.
- Implant problems. New penile implant designs are reliable, but in rare cases the implants may not work correctly. For example, in some semirigid devices, internal parts can break down over time. In inflatable devices, fluid can leak or the pump device can fail. Surgery is necessary to remove, repair or replace a broken implant.
- Internal erosion or adhesion. In some cases, an implant may stick to the skin inside the penis or wear away the skin from inside the penis. Rarely, an implant breaks through the skin. These problems are sometimes linked to an infection.
Treating an infection
An infection can occur at any time after surgery. In rare cases, an infection occurs years later. A serious infection can cause swelling of the scrotum, pus buildup and fever. Surgery to remove the implant is always necessary to treat an infection. Replacing a penile implant can be complicated and costly and can lead to buildup of scar tissue, loss of sensation in the penis and a decrease in penis length.
- Montauge DK. Prosthetic surgery for erectile dysfunction. In: Wein AJ, et al. Walsh: Campbell's Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/119551792-3/801941680/1445/26.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-0798-6..50025-X--cesec13_1966. Accessed Dec 23, 2010.
- Eid JF. What is new for inflatable penile prostheses? Current Opinion in Urology. 2009;19:582.
- Erectile dysfunction. Cornell University Sexual Medicine Program. http://www.cornellurology.com/sexualmedicine/ed/implant.shtml. Accessed Dec. 23, 2010.
- Wolter CE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 18, 2010.
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