Conceal reservoir issues or problems

[JohnHC]

Who has the Conceal reservoir with their AMS 700 implant? Any one have issues with theirs? And do you know how much fluid did the Dr put in? I know it holds 100ml and I thought the Dr would fill it up to max, but I'm seeing where some Drs only put 60ml to 75ml in them. Since the Conceal is a pleated type design when not full it can cause them to "fold" or "Pac-Man" which causes a fluid lockout making you unable to inflate beyond a certain point, which is indicated by a "dimpled" pump or one that goes flat and won't refill unless you press the deflate button. Unfortunately for me it appears that my procedure may have had this happen. I can deflate and squeeze as much out as possible, but upon trying to inflate the device I get 3 pumps and on the third the pump goes flat and will not refill, each time I deflate the firmness I get back when I reinflate is a little bit less each time. I know that 3 pumps is not all it takes to inflate, especially since it's not hard and definitely not standing at attention. I think my Dr did not fill mine to capacity and I now have the issue, not sure if they can just add the extra fluid to the reservoir ( should be real easy ) or if they need to replace the reservoir with the regular bulb type. Guess the only good thing about this is it's only been a few weeks since the surgery so it should be easy to do either way, unlike if it had been several months out and the scar tissue had set and healed

[Gt1956]

The implant companies have a chart for how much saline to fill the reservoir with by the size of implant they used. A 100ml holds 100ml max. It can hold less as you've found out. I will agree that it sure seems like they'd at least put in some extra. But that isn't how it normally works.
If you can't inflate to what you used to. It isn't a simple lack of fluid. It sounds like you had enough at one time.
Just guessing, pump problem or a leak. This is probably best discussed with a competent implant surgeon.

[Jage64]

The Conceal is not pleated.

https://www.amsmenshealth.com/content/d ... -final.pdf

[JohnHC]

Yeah just saw that, it's not pleated ( saw one that was but confused it with the Conceal ) but it is a flat disc, which can fold over locking out everything on the other side of the fold. From all the stuff I've seen online it only happens with the Conceal and apparently only when they don't fill it to capacity, all the case studies showed they were only filled between 60ml to 75ml, those filled with 100ml didn't appear to be affected.

[Jage64]

I just looked at my surgery notes, states I received 95cc of sterile saline for my 21cm CX with 100cc max Conceal reservoir.

[JohnHC]

Just had my followup and the Dr said me accidently hitting the deflate button and then starting to try to cycle the pump didn't cause the issue. He stated that they during the surgery vacated all the air in the system and filled the reservoir with 100ml of saline, he said that he always puts the max that the reservoir will hold in it. When he tried the pump before deflating he could very much hear the air in the system, and upon deflating he could feel the rush of fluid from the implant. Upon squeezing the pump he got the same 3 pumps then it went flat, and it has him stumped as he has never encountered this and says he doubts it could be "folded or pac-manned" since it was full and they cycled the implant several times after closing me up and it worked perfectly. He thinks that maybe a line pulled free or there is a defective line to the reservoir. I have a meeting with a colleague of his Wednesday for a second opinion and then most likely in a few weeks go back to probably have the reservoir and it's line replaced, at least be opened back up to see if it's that or maybe a broken line or disconnected line around the pump.... Lucky me...

[Jage64]

sorry to hear that, but at least it seems you're on the road to getting it corrected. Hopefully there will be no more frustrating issues.

[JohnHC]

Well followed up with the second Dr. He says possibly ruptured reservoir, or maybe a line cane disconnected. Got a CT scan to check reservoir then back to Dr to get results, but no matter the results they still have to go back in and fix things, even if they have to remove everything and do it all over again. This Dr has been doing them since they first came out and he was surprised. Especially with it having all that air in the system, told them to be sure and let my Dr know he will help out on this case. So sounds like I'm going to be test case because neither has seen this before, lucky me.