title: The actual incidence of papaverine-induced priapism in patients with erectile dysfunction following penile colour Doppler ultrasonography.
abstract: Penile color Doppler sonography is a valuable method for evaluating erectile dysfunction. However, there are some concerns about the safety of this method due to the intracorporeal pharmacological injection, which may cause priapism as a complication, resulting in penile fibrosis. To evaluate the actual incidence of papaverine-induced priapism in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) who underwent penile colour Doppler sonography and to determine the safety of this diagnostic tool, a retrospective study was conducted using the database of our institution. A total of 672 men with ED underwent penile color Doppler ultrasonography with the intracorporeal injection of 60 mg papaverine hydrochloride. The patient characteristics of priapism cases were retrospectively evaluated. Priapism in 18 of the 672 patients (2.68%) was successfully treated with blood aspiration, irrigation and injection of an alpha-agonist medication, when needed. Patients with priapism were younger compared with those without priapism; mean age 45 +/- 12.51 (20-68) versus 50.93 +/- 12.04 (17-78) (P < 0.001). Penile Doppler ultrasound is a safe procedure in evaluating erectile dysfunction. The incidence of priapism, which is the most important complication of this procedure, is low and can be managed successfully with conservative approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of first Urology, Ataturk Teaching and Research Hospital, Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Serefoglu
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Balbay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010208:Papaverine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011317:Priapism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010208:Papaverine