Thomas J. Walsh, MD, MBA, MS, presented “Erectile Dysfunction Treatment – State of the Art Care in 2024” during the 43rd Annual Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar on January 31, 2024, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
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How to cite: Walsh, Thomas J. “Erectile Dysfunction Treatment – State of the Art Care in 2024” January 31, 2024. Accessed Sep 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/erectile-dysfunction-treatment-state-of-the-art-care-in-2024/
Erectile Dysfunction Treatment – State of the Art Care in 2024 – Summary
Thomas J. Walsh, MD, MBA, MS, reviews erectile dysfunction (ED) prevalence, risk factors, lifestyle, and treatments available for patients. He addresses the stigma and the biology of ED, emphasizing the importance of explaining both to patients as part of the treatment discussion.
Dr. Walsh explains that for approximately half of men, oral medications are insufficient to treat ED and shares the updated American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines for ED treatment, including oral agents, intra-penile therapies, surgery, and lifestyle changes. He outlines the advantages and disadvantages of therapies such as type-5 selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors, intraurethral and topical alprostadil, intracavernosal injection, penile implants, vacuum erection devices, and low-intensity shock wave (LISW) therapy.
Dr. Walsh concludes by outlining his approach to patients, emphasizing the importance of general health and using the opportunity to help patients understand the link between lifestyle and ED. He also emphasizes the importance of referring patients to a specialist when a practitioner is outside their comfort zone or if the patient requires treatments outside of their toolbox.
About The 43rd Annual Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar:
The Ralph E. Hopkins Urology Seminar is a multi-day meeting focused on training urologists in the latest in assessing, diagnosing, and treating urologic conditions in the clinical setting. Updates are provided on urologic cancers, stone disease, urologic reconstruction, female urology, infertility, sexual function, emerging surgical techniques, and general urology. The 43rd iteration of the meeting took place from January 31st to February 2nd, 2024, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
For further educational activities from this conference, visit our collection page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Thomas Walsh is a UW Professor and Vice Chair of Urology, Urology Section Head for UW Medical Center Northwest, and Director of the UW Men’s Health Center. His clinical interests include male reproductive and sexual medicine and surgery. He is the holder of the Endowed Professorship for Men’s Health, one of the only of its kind in the country.
Dr. Walsh completed his undergraduate training at the University of Oregon, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He then received his medical degree from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, where he garnered the highest academic honors and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed his general and urologic surgical training at the University of Washington, during which time he served as a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Scholar and received a master’s degree in epidemiology at the UW School of Public Health. Dr. Walsh completed a fellowship in male infertility and erectile dysfunction at the University of California, San Francisco and directed the UCSF Center for Male Reproductive Health before returning to UW Medicine. During his time at UW, he founded the Men’s Health Center, has developed and maintained a robust and extramurally funded research program, and has trained several generations of residents and fellows.
Under Dr. Walsh’s leadership, the Men’s Health Center has become one of the busiest clinics of its kind in the country. He integrates the most advanced and minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment modalities into his practice. Dr. Walsh has been named as one of “Seattle’s Top Doctors” by both Seattle Magazine and Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, and is recognized as a leader among his peers.
