Penile implants are a great solution for men who need a long term solution to their erectile dysfunction. As with any procedure there are risks. One of the risks I spend the most time trying to minimize is infection. Infection is important because it almost always means more surgery.
That said we can minimize the risks of infection to keep the chances of this happening low.
In a man with no risk factors for infection the chance is somewhere around 1-2%. In a man with significant risk factors it may be higher. Several things increase the risk.
1) Diabetes
2) Ongoing abuse of multiple drugs
3)Immunosuppressive medications-especially for patients with organ transplants.
4) Re-do surgery meaning this isn't your first penile implant surgery.
We have several tools to reduce the chances of infection
1) Experienced surgeons have good technique and work efficiently. Reducing the amount of time the implant is exposed and preventing it from touching the skin reduces the chances of infection.
2) Properly selected antibiotics and antifungals given at the time of surgery.
3)Antibiotics coated in antibiotics and potentially antifungals.
The best way to protect yourself is to find someone with expertise and dedication to this area of urology.
Dr. DeLay is fellowship trained in men's sexual health and maintains a high volume penile implant practice. He has been recognized as a penile implant center of excellence by Coloplast. He practices in Columbia and Lexington South Carolina.
