Priapism

Abstract

Priapism Is a rare disorder m which a male experiences a prolonged erection that is unassociated with sexual stimulation and may be painful. Etiologically, it is classified into primary or idiopathic and secondary to thromboembolic disease, medication and drugs mainly intracorporeal injection therapy for erectile dysfunction, infiltration by malignancies, perineal or penile trauma and neurogenk disorders. The failure of detumescence is usually caused by insufficient outflow or less commonly by an mcrease inflow of blood. This has led to the classification of priapism as low flow (ischemic or venoocclusive) and high flow (nonischemic or arterial). This condition may persist for several days and cause serious damage to the erectile tissue which could lead to impotence later on.

Diagnosis of priapism depends mainly on the history and physical examination. Further investigations can be done such as, intracorporeal blood gas measurement, a color-coded duplex ultrasound scan of the cavernous arteries and cavemosography.

The goal of treatment of pnap1sm IS rapid detumescence with relief of associated pain and preservation of potency. In idiopathic priapism, aspiration, irrigation and intra corporeal injection of phenylephrine