To RTE or not to RTE?

[BritinSpain]

A question that’s puzzling me.
I’m post-op now, a couple weeks, and as we know, the final distal/proximal measurement is calculated when we have no say in the matter, I.e. during surgery. That’s not a criticism, but my question for the assembled gurus - I got my Coloplast Titan at 24cms, total, made up of 22cms plus 2 cms RTE’s on both sides. My distal/proximal ended up as 14/10 cms including the RTE’s.
I learned after surgery that a 24cm Titan is available, so I wondered why that was not chosen? Can any of you throw some light on the nuances of RTE/non-RTE decisions/benefits/drawbacks, if any?
Thanks, yours in stiffness,
BritinSpain

[Quincy]

Don't know your exact circumstances, but can tell you mine. I have an AMS LGX. 18cm plus 3cm RTE, and there is a version that is 21cm, so that could have been used instead.

Way before surgery, my surgeon had told me to frequently (4 x a day) use a penis pump and a traction device for 3 months before the surgery. I'd had ED for a very long time and atrophy was very bad. He said if I did that he'd be able to put in a longer implant.

After surgery he told me I'd obviously done what he recommended because he was able to put a longer implant in than he thought. He considered the 18+3 to be the same as the 21, in essence, but he didn't think he'd be able to do 21 when he started.

Probably has nothing to do with your case, but that's why I got the 18+3 instead of the 21. I'm not at all unhappy about it. Works just fine.

Q.

[BritinSpain]

Thanks, Quincy. Is my signature not showing my details? It’s my first day here…thanks

[BritinSpain]

Ahem…I’ve discovered where I should have put the Signature data….

[ElbowRoom]

RTEs should be used to get to “off” sizes. If you measured a total of 24cm, they should have used a 24cm implant rather than a 22 + RTEs. It makes me wonder why that was done. Maybe they already broke the seal on the 22 and then realized you actually needed 24. But that’s a surgical mistake and they should just eaten the cost and opened a 24.

I’m not a surgeon, so there could be a reason for the RTEs, but I’m struggling to find it.

[thx1138]

As I understand it; if you have a low ball sack, the RTE allow the unit to slide forward so the tubes
go lower for better pump placement.

[ElbowRoom]

As I understand it; if you have a low ball sack, the RTE allow the unit to slide forward so the tubes
go lower for better pump placement.

Oh that's a possible explanation. Every anatomy is different.

[BritinSpain]

Thx1138 - you could be on to something there - old Johnny threeNutz here has the preverbial “pawnbroker sign” 2 at the same level, and the 3rd, lower, and between the other two…(in other words, my new configuration sets my pump centrally, but lower than my nuts) Seems fine, looks-wise, and manipulating appears to be relatively easy, too. Thanks chaps!

[1984ptc]

Your surgeon does not know your measurements until he opens you up. You measured 24, but if the proximal end is like 10 or higher, he will need to use rtes sometimes to avoid a pump that rides high. The tubing of the ipp and how it exits matters.

My case for example, measured a 23. Hakky wanted to try to fit a 24, but knew that my prox measurement (10 cm) hell prob have to use a 22+2. But because i got the ax model, we went 22+1 . On revision, he told me ill get a 24 for sure. But to avoid rtes, hell do something during surgery as he already knows my prox measurement so he can use a full 24.

Hope that makes sense

[Rider1400]

Just a guess but where the Dr makes the incision in relation to the position of where the tubes come out of the cylinders plays a part in this. When I went under last time I saw a 18,20 and a 24 on the table never asked why I didn’t see a 22…