PURPOSE

Alternative or ectopic reservoir placement has recently gained popularity among prosthetic surgeons to avoid injury to pelvic structures during inflatable penile prosthesis implantation. However, the true incidence of complications associated with these new techniques remains under studied. We performed a 5-year multicenter, retrospective study with the aim of evaluating complications related to alternative reservoir placement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the database of inflatable penile prosthesis surgery at 3 institutions from February 2011 to December 2016. The mechanism of failure and complications related to reservoir placement were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 974 inflatable penile prostheses were placed in the 5-year period by 3 surgeons, including 612 surgeries with alternative reservoir placement. Mean followup to the emergence of reservoir related complications was 20.4 months. There was no significant difference in complication rates between primary and revision cases (p = 0.72). A total of 12 cases (2.0%) required revision for reservoir related complications in the alternative reservoir placement group vs 1.3% in the space of Retzius group (p = 0.44). The most common complication in the alternative reservoir placement group was reservoir leakage, which developed in 5 patients. Three cases required revision due to abdominal muscular pain. Torsion in the tubing of 3 Conceal™ reservoirs was found which caused blockage of fluid transportation. One reservoir was incidentally found to be intraperitoneal on unrelated imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

Alternative reservoir placement is a safe and mechanically reliable approach, including in men with prior pelvic surgery. However, there are associated risks, including reservoir leakage, tubing torsion, muscle discomfort and unintended reservoir malposition which may require surgical revision.