title: Gravity cavernosometry--a simple diagnostic test for cavernosal incompetence.
abstract: The papaverine test has been widely used as a diagnostic procedure in erectile impotence. However, when patients do not achieve full erection on the test, it is necessary to differentiate between insufficient inflow and excessive outflow. Gravity cavernosometry is a method designed to evaluate the pressure responses in the corpora when they are subjected to a constant infusion pressure. The infusion flow is of minor significance. The intracavernous pressure (ICP) was measured in cadavers, in psychogenically impotent patients and in patients with arteriogenic impotence, following administration of papaverine and gravity perfusion. During perfusion in cadavers and in psychogenic patients, the ICP showed values above 110 cm H2O, while in arteriogenic patients the values ranged from 30 to 141 cm H2O. In the arteriogenic group, 11/20 patients had an ICP lower than 110 during perfusion. There was no correlation between the pre-perfusion pressure and the final pressure with perfusion. Gravity cavernosometry is a simple, cost-effective and reliable method for the assessment of corporeal competence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puech-Leao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glina
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Reichelt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010208:Papaverine; D010409:Penile Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply
chemical_list: D010208:Papaverine