SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF ULTRASOUND GUIDED RADIOFREQUENCY OF DORSAL NERVE OF THE PENIS IN LIFELONG PREMATURE EJACULATION REFRACTORY TO CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT

Background: Premature ejaculation (PE) is a significant and common medical problem affecting many men worldwide. While PE is not a life- threatening disorder, its effect on quality-of-life (QoL) issues is significant. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of pulse radiofrequency (PRF) of dorsal nerve of the penis in lifelong premature ejaculation refractory to conventional treatment. Patients and Methods: In this prospective study, all adult males complaining from lifelong PE resistant to conventional treatment, and seeking treatment of PE, at Al-Azhar University Hospitals [Al-Hussein and Sayed Galal]; Cairo; Egypt during the period from December 2019 to July 2020 were studied. Detailed history, physical examination, serum testosterone, serum prolactin were obtained. Patients underwent ultrasound guided pulsed radiofrequency of dorsal nerve of the penis. Any operative complications were recorded. To assess the efficacy of the procedure, patients were evaluated by intra vaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) and sex satisfaction scale (SSS). Results: As regard SSS, 3 weeks before intervention, all the subjects (20 subjects) were unsatisfied. Three weeks post intervention, 9 (45%) of subjects were satisfied, while 11 (55%) were unsatisfied. Four months post intervention, 8 (40%) subjects were satisfied, and 12 (60%) were unsatisfied SSS 3 weeks post intervention was significantly different from SSS 3 weeks before intervention and 4 months post intervention (p < 0.001). The mean of IELT was 33.4±19, 188.4±154.9, and 141.5±129.7 seconds at 3 weeks before PRF, 3 weeks after PRF, and 4 months after PRF, respectively. A significant difference was found between IELT pre intervention, 3 weeks and 4 months post intervention (p < 0.001). A strong positive correlation was found between IELT and SSS at 3 weeks and 4 months post intervention (p < 0.001& r = 0.78) and (p < 0.001& r = 0.91) respectively. In our study, 4 (20%) patients had pain that relieved by analgesic and 2 (10%) patients had minimal bleeding at site of needle insertion & resolved by compression. No subjects complained of erectile dysfunction nor loss of sensation, while 2 (10%) patients reported superficial infection in first week post intervention which may contribute to uncontrolled DM, 4 (20%) patients had tingling within the first 3 weeks, and 2 (10%) had numbness within the first 3 weeks. All these complications resolved with conservative treatment. Conclusion: PRF is a hopeful treatments in life long PE. Objective data on change in sensation (biothesiometry) and the short term of objective follow-up data are the significant limitations of this study.