Vacuum erection device in spinal cord injured men: Patient and partner satisfaction

Objective: To assess the efficacy of and patient and partner satisfaction with a vacuum erection device (VED) to treat erectile dysfunction of spinal cord injury. Design: Case series. Setting: University hospital outpatient clinic. Patients: Twenty spinal cord injured men with erectile dysfunction and their heterosexual partners, recruited from outpatient population and by advertisement. Intervention: Use of a VED to obtain erections for sexual activity. Main Outcome Measures: Efficacy in obtaining adequate penile erection, and patient and partner satisfaction with the device (survey). Results: At 3 months, 93% of the men and 83% of the women reported rigidity sufficient for vaginal penetration, with an average duration of 18 minutes. These numbers decreased somewhat at the 6-month control. At 6 months, 41% of the men and 45% of the women were satisfied with the device, with premature loss of rigidity during intercourse the most commonly reported complaint. Sixty percent of men and 42% of women indicated an improvement of the sexual relationship. Minor side effects, such as petechiae and penile skin edema, occurred frequently, but there were no complications that required treatment. Conclusion: The VED is effective in many couples in the treatment of erectile dysfunction associated with spinal cord injury. The devices were not universally accepted, but had a significant impact on sexual activity and sexual satisfaction for nearly half the couples. Vacuum erection devices should be presented to SCI men along with other options for treatment of erectile dysfunction.