Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, has made a breakthrough in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
This was after its medics successfully performed the first-ever penile implant procedure in East and Central Africa.
A man in his 40's was the first pension to have seen the procedure become a success.
He had previously been put on other treatment modalities but was not responsive.
“The procedure brings about an hour and involves implanting a prosthesis device in the penis. The advantage of this surgery is that the man can have intercourse anytime they like without using a medication,” explains Dr Ahmed Yousef, a Consultant Urologist and the lead surgeon for the procedure.
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He said the tests conducted on the patient including a penile doppler ultrasound showed that he had severe venous leakage causing the problem and an implant was the ideal treatment for the patient.
“Through this procedure, his erectile dysfunction condition has been treated. If he had issues with premature ejaculation, it will also be treated by this procedure,” adds Dr Yousef.
This is the first time for this procedure to be conducted in the region because it requires rare specialized expertise, a sub-specialty in urology.
When a person is aroused, the arteries in the sexual organ expand to allow blood to flow in, making the erection firm.
This blood needs to stay in the shaft to keep the erection firm until the person ejaculates. For this to happen, veins constrict to trap the blood inside.
Only after ejaculation should the veins widen and allow blood to flow back into the body.
It is estimated that about 15-20 percent of men suffer from erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation many of whom suffer in silence due to the nature of the problem.
These patients can access specialised care from urologists at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.
