27 men fitted with 'gold standard' 'bionic penises' at estimated cost of €500k
The surgically-implanted devices, which are also known as penile prostheses, can be manually inflated to simulate an erection and allow a male patient to regain sexual function.
The most common model is a three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis (3p-IPP), which consists of an abdominal reservoir, a scrotal pump, and dual cylinders implanted in the spongy tissue of the penis.
A total of eight patients were fitted with these devices in acute hospitals run by the Health Service Executive (HSE) last year, bringing the number of procedures to 27 in the past four years. The figures do not include elective or voluntary hospitals.
The HSE could not provide details relating to the cost of the treatment, but private clinics in the UK advertise prices exceeding €17,500, suggesting that the cost of the 27 procedures could amount to just under €500,000.
Records released by the HSE under freedom of information laws show that the patients who received penile prostheses in public acute hospitals since 2021 had been diagnosed with 'failure of genital response' or 'impotence of organic origin'.
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
The surgical implantation of these devices is typically considered a last resort where all other treatment options have failed, and the cause of patients' erectile dysfunction can include trauma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and prostate removal.
A study published in the Irish Medical Journal previously reported that 86 per cent of patients who had undergone the treatment in Irish hospitals between 2008 and 2017 had said they were 'satisfied' with the outcome.
However, a number of post-operative complications were reported by other respondents, and 13 had to undergo at least one revision procedure due to device failure, erosion, or infection.
The causes of device failure reported by patients included kinking of tubing, disconnection of a tube from the abdominal reservoir, and migration of the reservoir within the body.
The study described the 3p-IPP device as the 'gold standard' surgical treatment option. This is activated by squeezing and releasing a pump fitted in the patient's scrotum, which moves fluid from a reservoir in the abdomen into the penis, creating an erection.
The latest figures show that 11 men underwent the procedure in acute hospitals in 2021, and a total of eight received the treatment in 2022 and 2023 combined, while another eight were fitted with the devices last year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
20 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Taoiseach warns of cocaine 'epidemic' as drug use surges across Ireland
The use of cocaine across Ireland has become an 'epidemic,' the Taoiseach has said. Micheál Martin noted there is a growing use of cocaine across the country, while alcohol consumption has declined in recent years. 'From what I hear anecdotally, the use and the prevalence of cocaine use has grown significantly, and that is very worrying in terms of the health of the nation and younger people in particular,' Mr Martin said, speaking in Tokyo. 'It's very bad for one's health, apart from behavioural traits that can flow from it.' A United Nations report from 2023 found that Ireland was the fourth-highest consumer of cocaine globally. It revealed that 2.4% of people in Ireland used cocaine in 2019, the most recent year for which data was available. His comments came a day after €31m worth of cocaine was seized in Courtmacsharry, in a shipment gardaí believe was destined for the UK market. The Taoiseach added that this was not the first major cocaine seizure in the area and highlighted the massive haul recovered from the MV Matthew in recent years. Mr Martin said the issue shows that it is not just an Irish problem, but that cocaine is 'everywhere.' 'On the alcohol story, it's interesting, consumption has gone significantly down over the last 20 years, which is a positive from a public health perspective. 'But then there clearly is an increase in drug use, and we've had terrible tragedies, terrible, terrible, tragedies with people as a result of using cocaine or other drugs also. Drugs kill people and kill people pretty quickly.' When asked if he believed there was a link between the fall in alcohol consumption and the rise in cocaine use, Mr Martin said it was possible, and that he had discussed the issue just the previous weekend. 'I think we need more scientific analysis of that. There could very well be, there could very well be a link between the two and that would be very worrying,' Mr Martin said. Regarding the seizure in Courtmacsharry, Mr Martin praised gardaí, the defence forces, and the navy for their coordinated effort in intercepting the drugs. 'What's wonderful there is the integration and coordination of all the agencies working with European agencies as well. Multidisciplinary teams are the best in any field of life. Breakdown the silos,' Mr Martin said. 'They work together, you can really catch traffickers. And this has been highly effective.' Read More Gardaí suspect €31m Courtmacsherry cocaine haul was destined for UK market
The Journal
44 minutes ago
- The Journal
Taoiseach says there ‘could be link' between falling alcohol consumption and increased cocaine use
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said there 'could very well be a link' between declining alcohol consumption and increased cocaine use in Ireland. He added that such a connection 'would be very worrying'. Martin was speaking to reporters in Japan ahead of the opening of a new Irish Embassy in Tokyo. Yesterday, two men were arrested after they were allegedly caught bringing a huge quantity of cocaine ashore in west Cork. The incident happened off Broad Strand, Courtmacsherry and an estimated €30m worth of suspected cocaine was seized following a two-day drugs interdiction operation. Martin was asked about this seizure, in addition to figures showing that Ireland is one of the biggest cocaine users in Europe. Cocaine was the main drug in almost 40% of cases of treatment for problem drug use last year – a 7% increase on 2023's figures – according to a report by the Health Research Board. Ireland also has one of the highest prevalence rates of cocaine use in Europe, with 8.3% of adults reporting that they had tried cocaine in a 2019 survey. But while cocaine use is rising, alcohol consumption has been trending downwards for 25 years. A report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland showed that average alcohol consumption per adult fell by 4.5% last year to 9.49 litres of pure alcohol. This is a drop of more than one third (34.3%) since 2001. When asked if there is a link between falling alcohol consumption and increasing drug use, Martin said 'there could very well be a link between the two and that would be very worrying'. He added that there needs to be 'more scientific analysis' of the issue. Martin was also asked if cocaine use is becoming an 'epidemic' in Ireland, and replied: 'I believe it is.' He added: 'From what I hear anecdotally, the use and prevalence of cocaine use has grown significantly and that is very worrying in terms of the health of the nation, for younger people in particular. 'It's very bad for one's health, apart from behavioural traits that can grow from it.' And while Martin welcomed the 'significant' decrease in alcohol consumption over the past 25 years, he noted that there 'clearly is an increase in drug use'. 'Drugs kill people and we have to look at that from a Drug Harm Reduction Strategy and work with the Ministers for Health and Justice and others to try and really focus in on this issue.' Meanwhile, Martin said that the cocaine seized in Courtmacsherry was headed for Britain and remarked: 'It's not just Ireland, it's everywhere.' He also noted that yesterday's cocaine seizure in Courtmacsherry is 'not the first time this location has seen a huge consignment'. In 2023, the largest seizure in the history of the State saw 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated €157 million seized from the MV Matthew in Cork. Martin also praised the co-operation of gardaí, the Naval Forces and the Defence Forces in this week's Courtmacsherry seizure. 'What's wonderful is the integration and coordination of all the agencies, working with European agencies as well,' said Martin. 'Multidisciplinary teams are the best in any field of life – breakdown the silos and if you work together, you can really catch traffickers and this has been a highly effective operation.' Advertisement Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
AI is advising your child on sex, gender and body image, and you may not know it. Learn how to limit the dangers
Teenagers are turning to chatbot 'friends' to ask awkward questions they may be too embarrassed to bring up with parents. Dr David Coleman outlines the risks and what you can do to curtail its influence Artificial intelligence has arrived in our children's lives. Not tentatively. Not gradually. It has arrived fast, uninvited and largely unregulated. In the homes and bedrooms of every Irish household, AI is potentially already influencing the minds, emotions and vulnerabilities of our children and teenagers, often in ways we barely see until it's too late.
