Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation and Tadalafil in Men With Erectile Dysfunction: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Bi-centric, Placebo- and Sham-Controlled Trial

Organic erectile failure is thought to be caused predominantly by neurogenic or vascular disorders. Venoocclusive dysfunction of the corpora cavernosa induces erectile dysfunction in 20-30% and appears clinically by premature erection loss.

The increased venous outflow from the corpora cavernosa can be illustrated as a so called 'venous leakage' by cavernosography being responsible for the therapeutical failure of intracavernously applied vasoactive substances. Cavernous smooth muscle pathology proven in some of the patients with venous leakage gave little hope to reconstructive surgery.

However, own examinations let assume that the etiology of 'venous leakage' is caused by endogenic and exogenic factors. Furthermore, reversible venous leakage was observed. Any therapeutic option of the veno-occlusive dysfunction showed disappointing results with a respective success rate of 20% in the long-term follow-up (surgical venous resection, percutaneous transpenile venous embolisms).

Finally the vacuum device or penile prosthetics are the only therapeutical option for the patients. Physiologically, bulbocavernous and ischiocavernous muscles increase the intracavernous pressure of the tumescent penis.

Regular pelvic floor exercise can be achieved by a physiotherapist which seems to be a time-consuming and expensive procedure, or an advantageous transcutaneous electrical stimulation which is the standard therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic atrophy of the striated muscular system.

Thus an external stimulator device has been developed to evaluate the therapeutical potency of striated muscle exercise in patients with erectile dysfunction. The present clinical study documents the first experiences with this EIS device and outlines its potency for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.