The inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is the gold standard for surgical management of erectile dysfunction (ED) and there is no consensus on the best postoperative pain management regimen. In the wake of the opioid epidemic, postoperative pain management is heavily scrutinized. The National Institute of Health estimated over 81,000 individuals died following overdose of any opioids in 2022 alone; of these, over 14,000 deaths were linked to prescription opioids. Thus, strategies to minimize postoperative pain should not only improve patient experience but also lessen the need to escalate to opioid usage.
It would be ideal to create an effective and easily reproducible approach to pain prevention and pain management in men undergoing IPP placement. One highly appealing target would be intracavernosal administration, as there would be no ambiguity regarding delivery of agent at the time of surgery. Thus far, no prospective randomized controlled trials have explored the efficacy of intracavernosal administration of local anesthetic for pain management.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
100
10cc of Exparel (133 mg, 1.3%) with 10cc of 0.5% standard bupivacaine (50 mg )for total volume of 20cc into the corpora immediately prior to placement of corporotomy stay sutures.
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Scores
VAS scores range from 0 to 100, with 0 representing no pain or the least desirable state and 100 representing the worst possible pain or the most desirable state. The "score" is the distance in millimeters from the "no pain" end of the 100mm line to the point where the person marks their pain level. Lower scores (0-4mm) indicate no pain, while higher scores (75-100mm) indicate severe pain.
Time frame: Hour 1
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Scores
VAS scores range from 0 to 100, with 0 representing no pain or the least desirable state and 100 representing the worst possible pain or the most desirable state. The "score" is the distance in millimeters from the "no pain" end of the 100mm line to the point where the person marks their pain level. Lower scores (0-4mm) indicate no pain, while higher scores (75-100mm) indicate severe pain.
Time frame: Hour 4
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Scores
VAS scores range from 0 to 100, with 0 representing no pain or the least desirable state and 100 representing the worst possible pain or the most desirable state. The "score" is the distance in millimeters from the "no pain" end of the 100mm line to the point where the person marks their pain level. Lower scores (0-4mm) indicate no pain, while higher scores (75-100mm) indicate severe pain.
Time frame: Hour 24
Cumulative Morphine milligram equivalents (MME)
Cumulative morphine milligram equivalent (MME) is a metric used by healthcare providers to standardize the total potency of all opioid medications a patient is taking. By converting each opioid into a standard value based on morphine, providers can assess a patient's overall risk for overdose and other complications. Higher cumulative MME levels are associated with a greater risk of overdose. For example, doses of 50 MME or more per day increase overdose risk and warrant closer monitoring, while doses of 90 MME or more are considered very high.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: Day 2
Number of calls, messages, or visits to clinic
Physician access line calls, messages to clinic, visits to clinic for postoperative pain within 30 days after surgery
Time frame: Day 30
Number of Complications
Complications from intracavernosal injections
Time frame: Day 30
Number of Other Complications
Other complications after IPP surgery using the Clavien-Dindo grading scale - The Clavien-Dindo scale is a grading system that categorizes surgical complications based on the treatment required to manage them, providing a uniform and objective way to assess and report post-operative events. It consists of five grades, with Grade I being minor deviations not requiring intervention and Grade V indicating patient death
Time frame: Day 30
Serum bupivacaine levels
Serum bupivacaine levels at 1 hour and 1 day after surgery - Serum bupivacaine levels are a measurement of the drug in the blood, and the "normal" or safe level varies significantly by the patient's condition, the administration site, and the dose - A 1-mL serum or plasma sample is typically collected in a red-top or green-top tube
Time frame: Hours 1 and 24
Amount of tramadol usage
Use the lowest dose possible for the shortest time needed. Take your prescribed dose as indicated by your healthcare provider. The maximum dosage is 1 or 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours, as needed for pain relief.
Time frame: Hour 24