title: [Intracavernous injections of vasoactive drugs. Evaluation of their diagnostic and therapeutic value in 65 cases of erectile impotence].
abstract: Intracavernous injection (IC) of vasoactive drugs (papaverine (ICP) in 115 cases and different alpha-blockers in 65 cases) were administered to 65 patients with erectile impotence to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic interest of this procedure. Immediate (induction of erection) and medium term (lasting improvement in impotence) results were correlated with those of investigations of multidisciplinary etiologies. Comparison of results of ICP with those of plethysmography of nocturnal erections (PEN, 52 cases) gave negative results for the papaverine test (lack of erection or one without rigidity) in 67% of cases of impotence of organic origin (PEN abnormal). However, the test was positive (totally rigid erection) in 17% of cases of organic etiology and only 40% of psychogenic cases (PEN abnormal). Comparison of results with those of selective hypogastric arteriography and of the artificial erection test with dynamic cavernography (43 cases) showed that the papaverine test was never positive in patients with severe arterial occlusion or obvious venous leaks. However, an elevated proportion of cases with a negative test failed to show signs of marked vascular anomalies. Integration of results of total multidisciplinary explorations showed that most patients with organic or mixed impotence producing a positive or intermediary type papaverine test were cases of neuropathic impotence or had major neuropathic elements. Repeated IC of different vasoactive drugs (excluding the use of autoinjection techniques) failed to provide lasting improvement except for psychogenic impotence (5 of 9 cases). But it is in this group that IC is the most dangerous (2 cases of priapism and 8 cases of rigid erection prolonged over more than 4 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010208:Papaverine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010991:Plethysmography / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D010208:Papaverine
vernacular_title: Injections intracaverneuses de drogues vaso-actives. Evaluation de leur intérêt diagnostique et thérapeutique dans 65 cas d'impuissance érectile.