Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Penile Rehabilitation After Robot-assisted Surgical Treatment of Genitourinary Cancers
This prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) is designed to provide high level evidence on the efficacy of Low-intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (Li-ESWT) in the treatment of post-Robot-Assisted (RA) Radical Prostatectomy (RP) erectile dysfunction (ED) in addition to PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5i) versus PDE5i alone. Our hypothesis is that early andrological rehabilitation that combines Li-ESWT and PDE5i could lead to faster and better recovery of valid erections for intercourse, with a greater rate of postoperative International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) compared to patients receiving PDE5i alone.
• Patients aged ≤75 yrs;
• PSA \<10 ng/mL
• Prostate Cancer ISUP grade ≤2 and cT≤2 at prostate biopsy
• undergoing nerve sparing RARP;
• preoperative IIEF-5 score ≥ 17;
• First PSA (45d after surgery) \<0.1
• Prostate Cancer ISUP grade ≤2 pT\<3b and at final pathology
• ≥ 18 yrs old;
• compliants patients able to follow the study protocol and fill in IIEF-5 scores and EORTC quality of life questionnaires;
• patients able to provide a written informed consent for the trial.