Is the vacuum erectile device suitable for treating erectile dysfunction? A systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the evidence gap
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: VED is a handheld pump that creates negative pressure around the penis to draw blood into the corpora cavernosa. Although included in guidelines as a noninvasive option, its uptake is limited by fragmented evidence. Current Grade C recommendations are largely based on post-prostatectomy studies, and no systematic review/meta-analysis has evaluated VED across other ED etiologies (diabetic, cardiovascular, idiopathic) or compared it head-to-head with pharmacotherapy using the IIEF. METHODS: We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library using relevant keywords to identify studies assessing VED's effects on erectile dysfunction patients. The primary outcome we assessed in this systematic review was erectile function based on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Study quality was assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB2) for Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) studies and using ROBINS-I for non-RCT studies. Meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4. RESULTS: The meta-analysis results of this study showed that when VED was used as a single therapeutic modality compared with Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors (PDE5Is), there was no significant difference (p=0.77). However, when compared with the placebo group (no intervention), VED provided significantly better outcomes [MD: 4.44 (95% CI: 3.04-5.84) p<0.001). Similarly, when VED was combined with PDE5i, its effectiveness was significantly better than PDE5i…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Protective effects of tadalafil and N-acetyl cysteine therapy on cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity
- The Use of Generative AI for Scientific Literature Searches for Systematic Reviews: ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing AI Performance Evaluation
- Sildenafil as a Candidate Drug for Alzheimer’s Disease: Real-World Patient Data Observation and Mechanistic Observations from Patient-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons
- Ozone-modified properties of pumpkin seed oil as anti-H. pylori, anticancer, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity agent
- Effectiveness of Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Erectile Dysfunction: An Analysis of Sexual Function and Penile Hardness at Erection: An Umbrella Review
- Molecular Docking of Silymarin as a Ligand for Aromatase Enzyme and HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Using Molegro Virtual Docker
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.