Eight years of clinical experience with inflatable and semirigid penile implants.

Penile prosthesis was implanted for erectile impotence of mainly organic origin in 36 patients between 1977 and February 1985. An inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) was inserted in 24 cases and a "simirigid prosthesis" (SRP) in 12. The overall infection rate was 11%. Revision because of leakage was necessary after 19% of IPP insertions, though in none with the most recent design. The prosthesis is still in situ in 29 patients (19 IPP, 10 SRP), 24 of whom are satisfied with its function. The latter figure will probably increase after planned surgical revision in two cases. Three patients are dissatisfied in spite of functioning prosthesis, in all cases due to intercurrent disease. The study confirmed the view that penile implants give a high degree of satisfaction in the treatment of organic impotence.