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High-submuscular vs. space of Retzius reservoir placement during implantation of inflatable penile implants

Abstract

We have evaluated the data of patients who underwent ectopic high submuscular reservoir placement during implantation of inflatable penile prostheses and compared them to those of patients who underwent to traditional reservoir placement in the space of Retzius (SR). The main focus was on evaluating complications and patient satisfaction rates in both methods of RP. One hundred and forty-two patients underwent implantation of the Coloplast Titan OTR prosthesis with exclusive use of the “Clover Leaf” reservoir. We performed a retrospective evaluation, analyzing the treatment-associated complications by means of the Clavien–Dindo classification. All patients as well as their partners received questionnaires with validated scores. Group I: 70 (49.3%) patients who underwent HSM RP. Group II: 72 (50.7%) patients who underwent SR RP. Neither grade IV nor grade V Clavien–Dindo complications were documented. In total, we observed 4 (3.3%) cases grade III b complications, which resulted in revision. Distribution was as follows: infected device (n = 4), scrotal hematoma (n = 2), scrotal seroma (n = 1), and scrotal skin fistula (n = 1). 88% of the patients with ectopic HSM RP and 81% with traditional SR RP were satisfied with their implant. Of the patients with HSM RP, 64.3% (n = 45; BMI range: 18.5–28.8) reported that they were able to feel their reservoir by palpation immediately after surgery. Palpability disappeared in 80% of the patients in this group (BMI > 26.5) after capsule formation at 3 months post-surgery. Only one patient (1.4%; BMI 20.5) reported that he was able to see the reservoir. Our findings suggest that the novel reservoir placement is safe, efficient and results in excellent patient satisfaction, even if the reservoir is initially palpable or visible.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr Steven K. Wilson for editing the paper and for providing an illustration from his collection. We would like to thank Mrs Kalz for professional work with an English text.

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Correspondence to D. Osmonov.

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Osmonov, D., Chomicz, A., Tropmann-Frick, M. et al. High-submuscular vs. space of Retzius reservoir placement during implantation of inflatable penile implants. Int J Impot Res 32, 18–23 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-019-0201-4

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