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

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Erectile Dysfunction

Interventions

DRUG

Placabo

Placebo resembling Tadalafil 5 mg oral tablet to be given once daily for 3 months

DRUG

Tadalafil 5 mg

Tadalafil 5 mg oral tablet to be given once daily for 3 months

DEVICE

Sham stimulation

Electrical stimulation using PhalliMax system which delivers low-frequency and low-intensity TENS currents. The stimulation is intended to treat cavernous smooth muscle insufficiency by stimulating penile tissue to enhance blood flow. Self-adhesive electrodes were systematically applied on the patient according to a specific anatomical configuration: 1) Electrodes were placed on the lateral sides of the penile shaft or in a circumferential manner below the glans and at the penile root to target the corpora cavernosa. 2) Electrodes were placed on the perineum and suprapubic region to target the pelvic floor muscles. Patients were instructed to perform the stimulation sessions daily for a duration of 30 minutes for 3 months. Pulse frequency is set to 30 Hz, width to 85 microseconds a and stimulation cycles included stimulation phase for 3 seconds then rest phase for 6 seconds. Here patients will receive only one stimulation cycle for 3 seconds then output decline to zero.

DEVICE

Active TENS

Electrical stimulation using PhalliMax system which delivers low-frequency and low-intensity TENS currents. The stimulation is intended to treat cavernous smooth muscle insufficiency by stimulating penile tissue to enhance blood flow. Self-adhesive electrodes were systematically applied on the patient according to a specific anatomical configuration: 1) Electrodes were placed on the lateral sides of the penile shaft or in a circumferential manner below the glans and at the penile root to target the corpora cavernosa. 2) Electrodes were placed on the perineum and suprapubic region to target the pelvic floor muscles. Patients were instructed to perform the stimulation sessions daily for a duration of 30 minutes for 3 months. Pulse frequency is set to 30 Hz, width to 85 microseconds a and stimulation cycles included stimulation phase for 3 seconds then rest phase for 6 seconds.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Menoufia University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mohamed Alhefnawy · Urology Department, Benha University, Benha, Qalubia, Egypt

• Islam Said · Urology Department, Benha University, Benha, Qalubia, Egypt

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-06-01

Primary Completion

2025-10-01

Completion

2026-03-01

Countries

• Egypt