Usefulness of power Doppler ultrasonography in evaluating erectile dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate deep penile arterial flow after an intracavernosal injection with papaverine in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED).


METHODS
Twenty patients with ED were evaluated using power Doppler ultrasonography with a linear probe (8 MHz). Diagnostic tests were undertaken after an intracavernosal injection with 40 mg papaverine. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI) were analysed.


RESULTS
After injecting papaverine, seven patients had a normal erection and appropriate waveform patterns; their mean PSV was 30.7 cm/s, the EDV 4.42 cm/s and the RI 0.85. There was tumescence and elongation of the penis with no rigidity in eight patients; their mean PSV was 23.9 cm/s, the EDV 7.34 cm/s and the RI 0.72. There was no erection in five patients. The abnormal flow values showed insufficient arterial vessels in a quarter of the men, venous leakage in 15% and mixed ED in 20%.


CONCLUSIONS
The power Doppler technique allows the accurate location and evaluation of deep penile arteries. Vascular pathology may be differentiated after an intracavernosal injection with a vasomotor agent. Recognising the pathological pattern assists in choosing the best method of treatment.
Golubinski
A J
AJ
Department of Urology, Pomeranian Academy of Medicine, ul. Powstanców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland. golubinski@interia.com.pl
Sikorski
A
A
D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006801:Humans; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010208:Papaverine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010208:Papaverine