Treating stuttering priapism

Stuttering priapism is an uncommon recurrent form of ischaemic priapism consisting of episodes of unwanted, painful erections that typically last for <3 h. It occurs repeatedly with intervening periods of detumescence. If these episodes are not treated, it may evolve into a classic ischaemic priapism and eventually lead to irreversible corporal fibrosis with permanent erectile dysfunction. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in August 2010 using the PubMed database, MEDLINE and generic search engines. The search terms used to source information on this topic were, stuttering priapism (44 hits) and recurrent priapism (161 hits). Although there are numerous publications on this topic the majority of them are small trials and case reports. We identified 117 case reports, 28 reviews, 37 anecdotal reports, 22 small size clinical trials and one in vitro work. Our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of stuttering priapism has improved in recent years. Further multicentre randomized clinical trials are required to evaluate the efficacy of different treatment options and to define safe and effective management strategies for patients with low-flow recurrent priapism.     

Medical management of ischemic stuttering priapism: a contemporary review of the literature

Priapism is defined as a prolonged and persistent erection of the penis without sexual stimulation. This is a poorly understood disease process with little information on the pathophysiology of this erectile disorder. Complications from this disorder are devastating due to the irreversible erectile damage and resultant erectile dysfunction (ED). Stuttering priapism, though relatively rare, affects a high prevalence of men with sickle-cell disease (SCD) and presents a challenging problem with guidelines for treatment lacking or resulting in permanent ED. The mechanisms involved in the development of priapism in this cohort are poorly characterized; therefore, medical management of priapism represents a therapeutic challenge to urologists. Additional research is warranted, so we can effectively target treatments for these patients with prevention as the goal. This review gives an introduction to stuttering priapism and its clinical significance, specifically with regards to the patient with SCD. Additionally, the proposed mechanisms behind its pathophysiology and a summary of the current and future targets for medical management are discussed.     

Clinical course linkage among different priapism subtypes: Dilemma in the management strategies

Objectives: Priapism is a rare condition whose management differs according to the etiology. We report the clinical course of three forms of priapism to assess the feasibility and safety of recent management strategies. Methods: The study included eight patients complaining of persistent erection for ≥4 h who were treated in our institution between January 1996 and July 2007. Results: Overall, we categorized 12 cases of priapism in eight patients divided as follows: five cases of ischemic priapism (IP), three of stuttering priapism (SP), and four of non‐ischemic priapism (NIP). Two of five IP patients needed a shunt procedure, which led to the subsequent erectile dysfunction. The other three were treated successfully with a corporal injection of sympathomimetic agents and subsequently suffered from SP. One of the three SP patients suffered from mimicked NIP with increased arterial blood flow during the initial treatment for IP. Four of the NIP patients including the mimicked one achieved complete detumescence, through arterial embolization in two and conservative management in two. Conclusions: Current management seems effective and safe in the short‐term. However, the long‐term outcome of the treatment for IP is still disappointing. Careful long‐term observation is needed for an appropriate management.     

A rare cause of recurrent priapism: hereditary angioedema

Hereditary angioedema is a rare disease, which is caused by deficiency of compleman c1 esterase inhibitor regulatory protein in the compleman system. Priapism is involuntary, painful and prolonged erection of penis more than 4 h without sexual desire. In this case report, we elucidated a patient diagnosed with hereditary angioedema while he had recurrent priapism.     

A case report on idiopathic recurrent priapism

Idiopathic recurrent priapism is a difficult problem to treat and a potentially devastating condition that may result in irreversible penile fibrosis. We present the case of a patient who, during a period of 10 years, had recurrent episodes of idiopathic priapism and we show that therapeutic options do exist for the management.     

高流量性阴茎异常勃起1例报告及文献复习

目的通过病例报告及复习相关文献,探讨高流量性阴茎异常勃起的诊断及治疗。方法回顾性分析兰州军区兰州总医院近期收治的1例外伤后高流量性阴茎异常勃起患者的症状、体征、检查以及治疗、随访情况,结合既往报道的文献资料进行综述分析。结果患者入院后保守治疗无效,行超选择性阴部内动脉造影检查明确双侧阴茎海绵体动脉瘘,使用明胶海绵栓塞后治愈,随访6月患者恢复佳,无勃起功能障碍。结论通过典型的临床表现、阴茎海绵体血气分析以及彩色多普勒超声检查可初步诊断,而高选择性血管造影检查及栓塞术则为高流量性阴茎异常勃起的确定诊断及治疗的最常用及有效的方法。     

9例阴茎异常勃起诊治体会

目的 探讨阴茎异常勃起的诊断和治疗方法.方法 回顾性分析9例阴茎异常勃起患者的诊治过程.结果 9例患者均通过病史、体检、海绵体抽吸血气分析及多普勒超声检查确诊.经镇静、局部冷敷、海绵体抽吸血液、海绵体内注射药物及手术等不同方法治疗后,8例缺血性阴茎异常勃起患者中5例完全消退,3例部分消退;1例非缺血性阴茎异常勃起患者部分消退.5例随访6个月,其中4例出现ED.结论 阴茎海绵体血气分析、海绵体彩色多普勒检查对阴茎异常勃起有重要诊断价值,早期及正确应用海绵体注射药物和阴茎海绵体尿道海绵体分流术加术中冲洗是治疗缺血性阴茎异常勃起的可靠方法,但是由于大多数病人持续勃起时间较长,ED的发生率偏高.     

Temporary cavernosal-cephalic vein shunt in low-flow priapism treatment

Background

Surgical shunting might be considered as the only option in the treatment of extended ischemic priapism that does not respond to aspiration and medication.

Objective

A modified, simple, minimally invasive, and easily applicable artificial cavernosal–venous shunt technique for treating priapism is described in this report.

Design, setting, and participants

A total of 15 patients with extended and nonresponsive low-flow priapism were treated with this technique between January 1998 and February 2007.

Intervention

When the conservative treatment of low-flow priapism does not yield the expected results, then the temporary cavernosal–cephalic vein shunt should be applied. The standard equipment required for this modified technique includes three angiocaths, two shorn blood serum sets, and saline solution with heparin. The blood in the cavernosa and the saline solution infusion are incorporated into the systemic circulation with the aid of serum sets and angiocaths.

Measurements

Priapism duration, history, causes, its relation with sexual stimulation, pain, and any prior management of priapism were assessed in all patients. A complete blood count and blood gases assessment were conducted in corporal aspirates, and duplex penile ultrasonography was performed, which showed attenuated blood flow in the cavernosal artery.

Results and limitations

This technique was applied in 15 patients. Complete detumescence was achieved in 13. In the two cases in whom the technique did not yield the expected results, there was a need for a sapheno–cavernosal shunt. These patients later complained of erectile dysfunction and penile pain that continued for 6 mo. Of the 13 patients in whom detumescence was achieved, 3 reported erectile dysfunction according to International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores at the 12-mo follow-up.

Conclusions

Artificial cavernosal–cephalic vein shunt in the treatment of priapism is simple, safe, effective, easily applicable, and warrants primary consideration when the second-line treatment of priapism is initiated.     

Tricorporal priapism postradical cystoprostatectomy: First sign of recurrent urogenital malignancy

Priapism usually involves the whole length of a corpus or two corpora. Rarely is priapism segmental, especially proximally, and seldomly does it involve all three corpora. The causes of priapism are varied, but priapism due to solid malignancy is an extremely uncommon entity. The usual malignancy is urogenital. The disorder is frequently a manifestation of extensive pelvic extension of the primary disease; less commonly, it is associated with pelvic recurrence after seemingly curative surgery. In cases of malignant recurrence, priapism is rarely the first sign of such recurrence. We report a case of proximal tricorporal priapism, secondary to penile metastasis of a bladder malignancy postradical cystoprostatectomy. In this case, priapism was the first sign of disease recurrence and occurred in the absence of pelvic recurrence. This is the first such report of which we are aware.     

阴茎异常勃起的诊断和治疗(附12例报告)

目的提高阴茎异常勃起的诊治水平。方法统计临床所见12例阴茎异常勃起患者，年龄20-62岁，平均44岁。持续勃起时间13-162h，平均25．4h。其中血管活性药物所致5例，膀胱癌转移至阴茎异常勃起1例，白血病1例，有外伤史者3例，不明诱因者2例。对异常勃起分型，治疗及预后进行分析。结果12例患者中9例为低流量型，3例为高流量型。随访2—26个月，9例低流量型患者中，5例经阴茎海绵体根部注射间羟胺2—6mg，必要时在阴茎头及阴茎海绵体根部置9号针头灌注肝素化生理盐水对冲治愈，其中2例发生勃起功能障碍（ED）；2例行阴茎海绵体与阴茎头血管分流术治愈，其中一例术后出现ED；因白血病引起的阴茎异常勃起1例，膀胱癌转移至阴茎1例，预后均不佳。3例高流量型患者中1例行选择性阴部内动脉栓塞后治愈，无ED；2例行保守治疗出院，均有ED发生。结论详细的病史、海绵体血气分析和彩色双功能超声等检查有助于阴茎异常勃起准确及时的诊断。阴茎异常勃起如保守治疗无效，应立刻进行手术治疗。关键词阴茎异常勃起，诊断，治疗     

高流量性阴茎异常勃起的诊治(附3例报告)

目的 探讨高流量性阴茎异常勃起的诊断和治疗方法。方法 复习3例高流量性阴茎异常勃起，2例会阴部外伤所致，1例原因不明。行体检、血气分析、阴茎彩色超声、阴部内动脉血管造影等检查，并分别行阿拉明注射、穿刺放血、阴茎头．阴茎海绵体分流、明胶海绵动脉瘘栓塞等治疗。结果 2例明确诊断为高流量性阴茎异常勃起，右侧动脉瘘栓塞后勃起完全消失，随访短期内勃起功能恢复。1例诊断模糊，行分流手术后勃起不完全消退，随访2年内发生勃起功能障碍。结论 选择性阴部内动脉造影和栓塞治疗是高流量性阴茎异常勃起有效的诊治方法。     

New aspects in the treatment of priapism

Recent advances in the understanding of erectile physiology have improved the prompt diagnosis and treatment of priapism. During initial assessment, the physician must distinguish between veno-occlusive low flow (ischemic) and arterial high flow (nonischemic) in order to choose the correct treatment option for each type of priapism. Patient history, physical examination, penile haemodynamics and corporeal metabolic blood quality assist the distinction between static and dynamic priapism. Normally, priapism is effectively treated with intracavernous vasoconstrictive agents or surgical shunting. However, when these two methods fail, subsequent treatment procedures are a matter for debate. Alternative options, such as intracavernous injection of methylene blue or selective penile arterial embolization, for the management of high and low flow priapism are described and a survey of current treatment modalities is presented.     

阴茎异常勃起的诊疗体会(附14例报告)

目的探讨阴茎异常勃起的诊断及治疗。方法回顾性分析14例阴茎异常勃起患者的诊治经过。结果通过体查、海绵体抽吸血气分析及多普勒超声扫描等方法,低流量型阴茎异常勃起13例,高流量型1例。经保守、海绵体抽吸、肾上腺素海绵体内注射治疗及手术处理,患者勃起均消退。随访3～16个月,5例出现勃起功能丧失。结论准确判断阴茎异常勃起的类型有助于治疗方式的选择,阴茎海绵体血气分析结合多普勒超声扫描有助于分类的判断；阴茎海绵体穿刺抽吸结合肾上腺素反复灌洗,是一种简单、有效和副作用较少的治疗异常勃起的方式。     

Successful treatment of low-flow priapism associated with phenothiazine therapy

We present a case of low-flow priapism that was successfully treated. A 21-year-old man with a history of schizophrenia was admitted with a painful complete erection. He had taken propericiazine, phenothiazine derivatives, before hospitalization and was treated with a glandular-cavernosal shunt (El-Ghorab's procedure). Currently, he is able to have erections without any changes in his quality of life.     

The 10-year priapism experience: identifying clearer targets for intervention

BackgroundThere is a paucity of data on the clinical experience of priapism. Moreover, little work has explored differences in practice patterns between urologists and emergency medicine (EM) physicians. Our primary objective was to understand the priapism patient population and identify targets that may guide clinical translational efforts.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed on two priapism datasets from June 2008–July 2018—one focused on patients managed by urology and another on patients managed exclusively by EM physicians. Primary areas of interest included the duration of priapism and acute interventions during the consultation. Time to presentation, prior interventions and evaluation was also documented.ResultsOver the course of 10 years, there were 396 encounters for priapism in 95 unique patients. Urology was consulted 199 times in 83 unique patients and EM physicians managed 197 encounters in 15 unique patients. In the urology cohort, median duration of priapism was 6 hours, and 72% of patients required further intervention. For the EM cohort, median duration of priapism was 4 hours and 89% of patients required further intervention. Amongst all patients, nine patients presented 4 or more times for a total of 294 encounters.ConclusionsUrology and EM managed a similar number of encounters, but EM patients had a shorter duration of priapism. Understanding the role of the EM physician and the urologist can help tailor joint curriculum efforts for initial priapism management while focusing on more complex management for urology trainees. A small proportion of patients accounted for the majority of visits secondary to recurrent ischemic priapism indicating a need to target prevention of these episodes on an outpatient basis.     

An alternative noninvasive approach for the treatment of high-flow priapism in a child: duplex ultrasound-guided compression

We are presenting a 5-year-old boy with a traumatic high-flow priapism developed after a straddle injury and successfully treated by compression and simultaneous monitoring with a duplex ultrasound probe. We believe that this may be an alternative method against conventional treatment modalities including conservative follow-up, sympathomimetic drug administration, percutaneous embolization of the fistula, and surgical ligation.     

高流量阴茎异常勃起的诊断和治疗(附5例报告)

目的 探讨高流量阴茎异常勃起的诊断和治疗.方法 总结我院自2001年至2007年收治的5例高流量阴茎异常勃起病例的病因、诊疗过程,并检索CNKI<中国期刊全文数据库>2001年-2007年文献,荟萃分析高流昔阴茎异常勃起的病因、诊断和治疗方法.结果 4例患者为会阴部外伤,1例为性交后出现.3例行高选择性阴部内动脉造影术及可吸收性明胶海绵选择性阴部内动脉栓塞术,随访8～12个月,勃起功能恢复;其余2例等待观察,随访12个月,勃起功能恢复.结论 高流量阴茎异常勃起诊断主要依据体格检查、阴茎海绵体超声、海绵体血气分析.不需急诊治疗,应依据患者要求,选择保守治疗或动脉栓塞术.     

Sibutramine for the treatment of recurrent high-flow priapism

High-flow priapism most often occurs following perineal and penile trauma. We report the case of a 29-year-old man who presented with recurrent priapism and was initially treated with corporal aspiration and intracavernosal injections on multiple emergency department visits and then condition-controlled with sibutramine while on treatment for weight loss. His condition relapsed after the medication was withdrawn from the market, necessitating medical intervention.