Comparison of penile duplex ultrasonography with nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring for the evaluation of erectile impotence

A total of 50 patients with erectile dysfunction underwent comprehensive evaluation, including vascular evaluation with penile duplex ultrasonography and papaverine injection, as well as nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring. The latter was performed in a sleep laboratory setting in all patients. The results of penile duplex ultrasonography with papaverine injection were classified as 18 patients with normal vascular findings, 22 with arterial insufficiency, 3 with the pelvic steal syndrome and 7 with isolated venous leakage. Of the patients 15 had normal ultrasonographic and nocturnal penile tumescence findings, 29 had abnormal ultrasonographic vascular and nocturnal penile tumescence findings, 3 had abnormal ultrasonographic vascular findings and normal nocturnal penile tumescence (including 1 with the pelvic steal syndrome as evidenced by penile brachial index) and 3 had normal ultrasonographic vascular findings and abnormal nocturnal penile tumescence (including 2 with neurogenic erectile dysfunction). Penile duplex ultrasonography with papaverine injection appears to be a useful objective method to evaluate vasculogenic impotence and to correlate favorably with nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring. It also may have a higher yield than nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring in patients with the pelvic steal syndrome. While nocturnal penile tumescence is impaired in patients with neurogenic impotence, penile duplex ultrasonography with papaverine injection reveals, as expected, normal findings in patients with neurogenic impotence and normal vascular systems.     

多导睡眠仪监测下夜间阴茎勃起(NPT) 测定的应用价值

目的探讨多导睡眠仪监测下夜间阴茎勃起(NPT)测定在男性勃起功能障碍(ED)诊断中的作用及意义.方法我们将ED患者随机分成两组各60例、75例分别行多导睡眠仪监测下NPT和普通NPT检查,采用尼娃(NEVA)夜间阴茎勃起测定系统,以阴茎勃起幅度、勃起次数、勃起持续时间等作为评定指标.结果阴茎勃起幅度睡眠监测组为304.90±99.79,普通组为188.43±86.62,两组间存在显著差异(P＜0.01),两组的勃起次数、勃起持续时间也有差异(P＜0.05).结论多导睡眠仪监测下NPT测定具有准确掌握患者睡眠质量,检查数据误差小的优点,尤其对一些病情与诊断不符,怀疑普通NPT检查有假性结果的特殊病例,有较大的应用价值.     

夜间阴茎勃起测定在性功能障碍诊断中的应用

对自诉有性功能障碍的患者１２０例，进行夜间阴茎勃起（ＮＰＴ）测定。结果：１２０例中精神性阳萎４７例，占３９．２％；器质性阳萎７３例，占６０．８％。认为，通过ＮＰＴ测定作为阳萎患者的初步筛选是有一定的临床价值。     

夜间阴茎胀大试验在勃起功能障碍诊断中的应用

ED是一种常见的男科疾病,常由神经、血管或心理因素引起。其诊断方式多样。RigiScan阴茎硬度测量是以检测阴茎勃起为主的客观评估方法,近年来较为广泛的被临床所采用。本文综述了6项RigiScan检测参数(阴茎勃起次数、阴茎勃起总持续时间、阴茎头部和根部胀大硬度、阴茎头部和根部肿胀度以及周径胀大活力单位和硬度活力单位在ED诊断中的应用价值,以期为临床医师及科研人员应用夜间阴茎胀大试验(NPT)提供帮助。     

Effect of radical retropubic prostatectomy on erectile function, evaluated before and after surgery using colour Doppler ultrasonography and nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of radical retropubic prostatectomy on erectile function, by evaluating objectively patients' erectile function before and after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 126 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who were scheduled to undergo radical retropubic prostatectomy. After giving informed consent for the study, 123 patients underwent intracavernosal injection tests, colour Doppler ultrasonography and nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring before and after surgery. RESULTS: From the intracavernosal injection tests and nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring, 21 patients (17%) were evaluated as having normal erectile function before surgery. After radical retropubic prostatectomy, nine (43%) of these 21 potent men had preserved erectile function. In eight patients whose neurovascular bundles were preserved, five were potent after surgery. The cause of erectile function after surgery was a neurogenic disorder in seven and a related vascular disorder in five. CONCLUSION: From objective tests of erectile function on patients scheduled to undergo radical prostatectomy, 17% had normal erectile function. However, even after nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy, the proportion retaining potency was unsatisfactory. Although a neurological disorder was the main cause of erectile dysfunction after surgery, vascular disorders were also important.     

Infusion pharmacocavernosometry and nocturnal penile tumescence findings in men with erectile dysfunction

Infusion pharmacocavernosometry and nocturnal penile tumescence findings were compared in 50 men with erectile dysfunction of either organic or psychogenic etiology. Of the men 29 had abnormal and 21 had normal nocturnal penile tumescence. Infusion pharmacocavernosometry parameters (equilibrium pressure, maintenance flow rate and 30-second pressure fall) were compared to nocturnal penile tumescence status (normal versus abnormal). When traditional normal values were used for infusion pharmacocavernosometry parameters poor correlation with nocturnal penile tumescence status was found. When new cutpoints for infusion pharmacocavernosometry parameters were chosen a stronger correlation was noted. This study suggests that when vasoactive drugs are injected intracavernously for diagnostic purposes, anxiety and/or the absence of sexual stimulation following the injection may prevent complete cavernous smooth muscle relaxation resulting in falsely abnormal values. Therefore, over reliance on infusion pharmacocavernosometry as a single test for evaluation and treatment decisions concerning erectile dysfunction should be avoided.     

Comparison of international index of erectile function with nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity testing in evaluation of erectile dysfunction

We tried to compare the parameters of nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) testing with erectile function (EF) domain score of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), which is used in diagnosis and determining the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED), and to assess the sufficiency of IIEF in the diagnosis of ED. A total of 90 men, mean age 46 years (24-75), presenting with ED to our clinic between January 2001 and March 2003 were included in the trial. All the men answered the standard IIEF (15 questions) forms and was divided into four groups as mild ED, moderate ED, severe ED and no ED according to the EF domain score that is obtained from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 15th questions. Then NPTR testing with the RigiScan Plus monitoring device was performed for two consecutive nights on those men. The distribution of the six parameters of NPTR testing (number of erections, duration of erections, TAU base, RAU base, TAU tip, RAU tip) among the four groups and the correlation with IIEF-EF domain score were evaluated. Additionally, the distribution of the risk factors (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atherosclerotic heart disease, dyslipidemia and smoking) was analyzed both among the four groups and in each group. According to IIEF-EF domain scores of 90 patients, 16 (18%) had severe ED, 21 (23%) moderate ED, 41 (46%) mild ED and 12 (13%) no ED. There was no statistically significant difference between the risk factors among the men in these groups (P > 0.05). When the IIEF-EF domain scores were compared with parameters of NPTR testing, no statistically significant difference was obtained among ED groups (mild, moderate, severe) (P > 0.05). However, we observed a statistically significant difference between three ED groups and no ED group (P < 0.05). If NPTR testing is considered as a gold standard test, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of IIEF-EF domain score in ED diagnosis are 100, 17.9, 29.4 and 100% respectively. In conclusion, we did not observe a clinical correlation between IIEF-EF domain scores and NPTR parameters in the whole population; however, we observed that if IIEF-EF domain scores were normal, NPTR parameters were also normal. In other words, we can say that if the initial IIEF-EF domain scores are normal, then we do not have to perform NPTR testing. This could be helpful to make a cost-effective diagnosis.     

Snap-Gauge band compared to RigiScan Plus in a nocturnal penile tumescence study for evaluation of erectile dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to examine the ability of the Snap-Gauge band to differentiate organic from psychogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nocturnal penile tumescence testing was performed on 12 patients using a Snap-Gauge band and RigiScan Plus. A total of 29 nightly examinations were evaluated. The results obtained with the two methods were compared. RESULTS: The average tumescence, average rigidity, tumescence activity units and rigidity activity units in the positive group (the group of cases in which one, two or three films of the Snap-Gauge band were broken) were each significantly greater than that in the negative group (the group of cases in which no film was broken). The Snap-Gauge band correctly diagnosed 90% of the patients with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 75% with respect to results obtained using the RigiScan Plus. CONCLUSIONS: The Snap-Gauge band is inexpensive compared to the RigiScan Plus and is relatively reliable. We conclude that the Snap-Gauge band can play a role in ED assessment and can function as a screening device in evaluation of ED.     

血管性勃起功能障碍特殊检查的临床应用(附105例报告)

目的应用双功能超声、阴部内动脉造影和海绵体造影三项血管性勃起功能障碍（ED）主要特殊检查结合海绵体血管活性药物注射，对血管性ED动脉功能和静脉关闭机制进行评估。方法105例血管性ED，其中12例有骨盆骨折尿道断裂。本组病人先行阴茎双功能超声检查，判断动脉功能和静脉关闭机制异常情况。外伤动脉性ED病人进一步行阴部内动脉造影，静脉性ED进一步行海绵体造影。结果（1）阴茎双功能超声检查显示，动脉性ED 63例，静脉性ED 42例；（2）12例外伤性动脉性ED阴部内动脉造影显示，阴茎勃起供血动脉受损，包括阴茎动脉主干狭窄、断裂和阴部内动脉断裂；（3）42例静脉性ED阴茎海绵体造影显示静脉漏，包括背深静脉漏、脚静脉漏、海绵体间静脉漏和混合性静脉漏。结论（1）双功能超声检查提供了阴茎勃起血流动力学异常的客观数据，可鉴别动脉功能或静脉关闭机制异常，为血管性ED第一线检查方法；（2）动脉造影检查可对阴茎供血动脉病变损伤部位进行解剖定位；（3）海绵体造影检查提供了静脉漏病变的解剖部位，后二项造影检查可为手术方案制定提供客观依据。     

阴茎海绵体动态测压及造影的检查流程和临床应用

目的:探讨阴茎海绵体动态测压及造影(DICC)的操作流程及其在静脉型勃起功能障碍(VED)诊断中的价值。方法:临床行彩色多普勒超声检查筛选阴茎海绵体注射试验(ICI)阴性、高度怀疑VED的103例ED患者,对其进行DICC,对比观察检查结果维持灌注速度(FTM)和海绵体压力衰退值(PD)。结果:21例检查结果正常,其余VED患者根据其FTM和PD分为可疑静脉漏(5例)及轻度(39例)、中度(25例)、重度(13例)静脉漏;仅4例出现阴茎皮下血肿,3~5 d后均消失,无其他并发症发生。结论:DICC诊断VED微创、可靠、安全、可重复性高,可依据其检查结果将患者做进一步分类。     

The actual incidence of papaverine-induced priapism in patients with erectile dysfunction following penile colour Doppler ultrasonography

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 α-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.     

Comparative study between audiovisualsexual stimulation test and nocturnal penile tumescence test using RigiScan Plus in the evaluation of erectile dysfunction

INTRODUCTION: Although the nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test is considered the gold standard for the differential diagnosis of psychogenic versus organic erectile dysfunction (ED), concerns have recently been raised regarding the financial and time expenditure it demands. We evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of the audiovisual sexual stimulation (AVSS) test as an alternative to the NPT test. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 43 patients with ED were examined. Each patient filled in an International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. The evaluation of each patient consisted of AVSS and NPT tests which were performed using the RigiScan Plus. The results obtained with the two tests were compared. The patients with normal NPT patterns were presumed to have a psychogenic etiology of their ED and those with abnormal NPT patterns to have an organic etiology. RESULTS: The overall IIEF score was 32.5 +/- (SD) 9.2, and the erectile domain score was 12.2 +/- 4.5. Twenty-three patients had normal responses to the AVSS test, while 20 had abnormal responses. Twenty-two of the former 23 patients and 9 of the latter 20 patients had normal NPT patterns. Therefore, the AVSS test discriminated psychogenic ED with 71% sensitivity and 92% specificity. The overall accuracy of the test in this study was 77%. CONCLUSIONS: The AVSS test is simple, practical, and inexpensive, and its diagnostic accuracy is comparable to that of the NPT test. We conclude that the AVSS test should be the examination of choice for the primary etiological diagnosis in ED.     

Comparison of nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring and cavernosal smooth muscle content in patients with erectile dysfunction

Purpose: Nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring was compared to cavernosal smooth muscle content in 48 cases of erectile dysfunction.Materials and methods: Pre-operatively nocturnal penile tumescence rigidity (NPTR) testing, colour Doppler sonography and if needed pharmaco cavernosometry-cavernosography were evaluated in 48 impotent patients before surgical intervention. The 40 patients whom all those diagnostic tools were abnormal constituted the first group. In the remaining 8 patients, which constitutes the second group, NPTR testing were normal but the other tests were abnormal. 10 potent patients with congenital penile curvature constituted the third group. Cavernous biopsies were obtained during the surgery and biopsies stained immunohistochemically to quantify smooth muscle cells (SMC) by anti-desmin and anti-SMA.Results: We observed statistical significant difference of corporeal SMC content with regard to first Vs second group and first Vs third group (p < 0.05). However we did not observe statistically significant difference with regard to second vs third group (p > 0.05).Conclusion: NPTR testing appears to correlate well with corporeal SMC, which is the key structures of erection. We think that with taking into the consideration of its specific reservations, NPTR testing is still one of the best non-invasive tool in the differential diagnosis of erectile dysfunction.     

Analyses of factors contributing to the erectile dysfunction with aging by nocturnal penile tumescence, penile blood pressure index and papaverine test

To evaluate the factors contributing to the decline in erectile function with age, we performed measurement of nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) and penile vascular examinations in 407 men. The following results were obtained. 1) The penile circumferential increment during NPT measured by an erectometer was gradually decreased with age, especially markedly after 60 years of age. The percentage of subjects in whom the NPT was less than 10 mm increased with age: 2.7% in the 5th decade, 7.1% in the 6th decade, 16.7% in the 7th decade and 29.1% in the 8th decade. These findings indicate that the incidence of organic erectile dysfunction increased with age. 2) To evaluate the penile vascular status, measurement of penile blood pressure index (PBPI) and papaverine test were performed. The mean PBPI values were significantly decreased in the subjects over 70 years of age. The percentage of subjects having good response to papaverine injection obviously decreased with age: 66.7% between 50 to 59 years, 48.6% between 60 to 69 years, and 15.8% of over 70 years. All subjects in whom the NPT was less than 10 mm showed either a low PBPI level of less than 0.6 or an incomplete response to papaverine injection. These results suggest that penile vascular impairment plays a major role in the age-associated decline in erectile function. 3) We investigated the relationship between cigarette smoking and penile vascular impairment. Smokers showed not only lower PBPI values but higher incidence of the incomplete response to papaverine injection than nonsmokers. Therefore, it is considered that cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor in the erectile dysfunction that occurred in the aged.     

夜间勃起功能监测结果与他达拉非治疗勃起功能障碍疗效的相关性研究

目的:评价夜间勃起功能监测(NPT)结果与他达拉非疗效的相关性。方法:188例ED患者,根据NPT结果分为NPT正常组(n=136)和NPT异常组(n=52),2组患者均给予他达拉非治疗,3次/周,每次20mg。治疗前及治疗1个月后,分别评价IIEF-5评分、阴茎插入成功率(SEP2)、完成性交成功率(SEP3)以及总体评价问卷(GAQ),比较2组间治疗前后各项指标的变化。结果:2组患者用药后其IIEF-5评分、SEP2、SEP3均显著高于用药前(P<0.01)。NPT正常组患者治疗后的IIEF-5评分、SEP2、SEP3及GAQ均显著高于NPT异常组患者治疗后结果(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:经过他达拉非治疗1个月后,NPT正常组患者勃起功能(包括IIEF-5评分、SEP2及SEP3)较NPT异常组改善更为显著,即NPT正常组患者行他达拉非治疗疗效更佳。     

Long-term treatment of erectile dysfunction with a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor and dose optimization based on nocturnal penile tumescence

Associate Editor Michael G. Wyllie Editorial Board Ian Eardley, UK Jean Fourcroy, USA Sidney Glina, Brazil Julia Heiman, USA Chris McMahon, Australia Bob Millar, UK Alvaro Morales, Canada Michael Perelman, USA Marcel Waldinger, Netherlands

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that a variable dosage of the oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor sildenafil (25, 50, 100 mg) or vardenafil (5, 10, 25 mg) determined according to results obtained from nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR, RigiScan), given nightly for 1 year, can improve spontaneous erectile function (EF) in men with mild‐to‐moderate arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (ED); this regimen was compared with a fixed daily dosage of sildenafil 25 mg or vardenafil 5 mg.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a prospective open‐label, parallel‐group trial 154 men with ED were randomized either to fixed low‐dose sildenafil 25 mg or vardenafil 5 mg (group 1) or to the lowest erectile dosage of sildenafil (25, 50 or 100 mg) or vardenafil (5, 10 or 20 mg) (group 2) provoking an erectile event as measured by NPTR nightly for 1 year. The EF domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) was assessed before and 1 year after the beginning of treatment, and at 4 weeks after ending treatment.

RESULTS

After 1 year, 27 of 63 (64%) evaluable men in group 1 had an EF domain score in the normal range, vs 46 of 61 (75%) men in group 2. After the subsequent 4‐week wash‐out phase, both groups continued to have improved EF domain scores; 22 of 63 (35%) men in group 1 still had a score in the normal range, whereas 38 of 61 (62%) in group 2 had a normal score. The EF domain score in group 1 and 2 improved significantly after 1 year of treatment, from 13.6 to 18.9, and 15.1 to 23.9, respectively (P < 0.01). After the subsequent 4‐week wash‐out phase, men from both groups maintained this significant level of EF, at 17.1 and 22.4, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Nightly PDE5‐inhibitor treatment 1 year in a dosage determined by NPTR measurements results in better EF than giving a fixed dosage of sildenafil (25 mg) or vardenafil (5 mg). This improvement persisted for >4 weeks beyond the end of treatment. The results from this open‐label, randomized trial warrant verification under double‐blind, placebo‐controlled conditions.     

Snap-gauge compared to a full nocturnal penile tumescence study for evaluation of patients with erectile impotence

A total of 50 consecutive male patients underwent simultaneous Snap-Gauge and full nocturnal penile tumescence evaluation with objective rigidity measurements to determine the correlation between the 2 studies. Subsequent clinical evaluation was conducted in patients in whom the 2 tests differed regarding diagnoses to determine which test more accurately predicted the clinical outcome. One patient was excluded from the study for technical reasons. Of 14 patients who had a normal Snap-Gauge evaluation, defined by breakage of all 3 bands, 12 (86%) had a normal and 2 (14%) had an abnormal nocturnal penile tumescence evaluation. A total of 28 patients failed to break any of the Snap-Gauge bands and 7 broke only 1 or 2 bands. Of these 35 patients with an abnormal Snap-Gauge study 14 (40%) had a normal and 21 (60%) had an abnormal nocturnal penile tumescence evaluation. In a subsequent clinical evaluation 1 of the 2 patients with a normal Snap-Gauge study and an abnormal nocturnal penile tumescence test reported continued inadequate sexual function and, subsequently, he received a penile prosthesis. Of the 14 patients with an abnormal Snap-Gauge study and a normal nocturnal penile tumescence test 11 were located and 8 were sexually active with adequate erections for intercourse without further medical treatment other than counseling. We conclude that the correlation between Snap-Gauge and nocturnal penile tumescence is not good, and that the nocturnal penile tumescence test is more accurate to determine the clinical diagnosis.     

Continuous monitoring of penile rigidity and tumescence in Japanese without erectile dysfunction

Continuous monitoring of penile rigidity and tumescence has been proved to be of use for accurate diagnosis of erectile impotence, since it provides objective recording of penile rigidity as well as circumferential expansion. Prior to clinical use of this procedure in Japan, a study was performed to clarify normal features of nocturnal penile tumescence of Japanese and to ensure safety of this procedure. The subjects consisted of 16 normal volunteers, aged from 24 to 44 years. With fully informed consent of the volunteers, nocturnal penile rigidity and circumferential expansion were simultaneously measured for three consecutive nights by means of RigiScan at the base of the penis (base) and at about five millimeters proximal to the coronary sulcus (tip). The minimum circumference of the penis was 62.7 +/- 4.6 mm (mean +/- SD) at the tip and 65.4 +/- 9.3 mm at the base. The maximum circumference, which meant full erection in the normal volunteers, was 102.5 +/- 14.2 mm at the tip and 108.6 +/- 14.7 mm at the base. The mean duration of tumescence, i.e. circumference expansion more than 10 mm, was 23.0 +/- 6.9 minutes at the tip and 38.3 +/- 12.0 minutes at the base. The mean rate of episodes of circumference expansion more than 10 mm was 0.75 +/- 0.27 per hour at the tip and 0.70 +/- 0.26 per hour at the base. The maximum rigidity lasting more than 10 minutes was 82.9 +/- 10.1% at the tip and 85.4 +/- 8.4% at the base.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

多普勒超声技术动态观察血管性勃起功能障碍患者阴茎血流动力学的变化

目的动态观察多普勒超声技术配合阴茎海绵体注射在血管性勃起功能障碍患者诊断中的价值。方法120例疑血管性ED患者在阴茎注射PGE1后5min、10min和20min应用多普勒超声技术测量阴茎血流动力学变化,指标包括:收缩期峰值流速(PSV)、舒张末期峰值流速(EDV)、血流阻力指数(RI)。另100例心因性ED设为对照组。第一次注射后勃起不佳的患者3d后增加PGE1剂量重新检测。结果120例患者可以观察到明显的血流动力学变化,其中有动脉性ED者34例,静脉性ED 55例,混合血管性31例。ICI后不同时间的多普勒测量其血流动力学变化有一定差异。结论多普勒超声技术诊断血管性勃起功能障碍有一定意义。阴茎海绵体注射药物后须动态观察阴茎血流动力学的变化。