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。     

多普勒超声在静脉性勃起功能障碍诊断中的应用价值研究

目的：探讨Doppler超声在静脉性勃起功能障碍（ED）诊断中的应用价值。方法：10例静脉性ED者在阴茎海绵体内血管活性药物注射（ICI）后，行Doppler超声检查，并同时海绵体内灌注生理盐水，动态观察不同勃起状态海绵体动脉舒张期血流变化，30例心理性ED者仅ICI后行Doppler超声检查作对照。结果：静脉性ED者在勃起硬度差时，海绵体动脉舒张期表现为前向血流（正值表示），随着海绵体内生理盐水灌注后，勃起硬度逐渐增加，舒张末期血流消失；达正常勃起时，舒张期表现逆向血清（负值表示）。心理性ED者在阴茎膨胀期、海绵体动脉舒张期表现前向血流，正常勃起时，舒张期表现逆向血流。结论：在海绵体动脉供血正常情况下，静脉关闭障碍导致海绵体内压受损，舒张期出现血流动力学异常，前向血流为一特征性表现，因此Doppler超声在静脉性勃起功能障百的诊断中具有一定价值。     

彩色多普勒超声在血管性阴茎勃起功能障碍诊断中的应用

目的评估阴茎海绵体注射后彩色多普勒超声对男性血管性阴茎勃起功能障碍（ED）患者诊断作用。方法47例ED患者经阴茎海绵体注射PGE1 30μg诱导勃起后行彩色超声多普勒检查左、右海绵体动脉血流指标,包括收缩期最大流速（PSV）,动脉舒张末期血流速度（EDV）,阻力指数（RI）。结果非血管性ED组41例（87.2%）,其中左、右海绵体动脉PSV分别〉25 cm/s者33例,左右海绵体动脉PSV相加〉50 cm/s者8例。动脉性ED组2例（4.25%）,左右海绵体动脉PSV均〈25 cm/s,背深静脉未见血流。静脉性ED组4例（8.51%）。结论阴茎海绵体注射血管活性药物后多普勒彩色超声对男性血管性ED检查是一种微创而准确的方法。     

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). PATIENTS AND 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%. CONCLUSION: 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.     

A NEW METHOD FOR THE EVALUATION OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: SILDENAFIL PLUS DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY

PURPOSE: Of the various methods of hemodynamic studies performed to evaluate erectile dysfunction penile color Doppler ultrasound is currently considered the best. However, intracavernous injection is invasive and has adverse effects, such as prolonged erection. We evaluated whether sildenafil may be used as a substitute for intracavernous agents when assessing impotence on color Doppler ultrasound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 42 patients with erectile dysfunction underwent color Doppler ultrasound before and after intracavernous injection of 60 mg. papaverine with genital and audiovisual sexual stimulation. Peak flow and end diastolic velocity were measured in the recorded waveforms obtained 0, 1, 5, 10 and 20 minutes after injection. The patients also underwent color Doppler ultrasound after a 50 mg. oral dose of sildenafil with genital and audiovisual sexual stimulation not before 3 days after the papaverine study. The same parameters were measured at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 minutes, and compared with the values obtained after papaverine injection. RESULTS: Mean peak flow velocity significantly increased after oral sildenafil starting at 30 minutes and achieving a maximum value at 60 minutes. There were no significant differences in the 2 methods in mean peak velocity 1, 5, 10 and 20 minutes after papaverine injection, and 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 minutes after oral sildenafil administration. Penile color Doppler ultrasound with intracavernous papaverine injection is accepted as the gold standard but color Doppler ultrasound with sildenafil has 90% sensitivity and 100% selectivity for demonstrating arterial insufficiency. Due to prolonged erection 5 patients (11.9%) in the papaverine group required pharmacological detumescence by intracavernous injection. No adverse effects of sildenafil were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil administration achieved increased peak flow velocity comparable to that after intracavernous papaverine injection. With no prolonged erection sildenafil emerges as a safer alternative compared to more invasive intracavernous injection.     

糖尿病性勃起功能障碍的超声研究

目的 应用彩色多普勒超声血流显像(CDFI)技术探讨动脉在糖尿病性勃起功能障碍(ED)中的作用.方法 23例糖尿病性ED患者和30例非糖尿病ED患者经阴茎海绵体注射前列地尔注射液(主要成分为PGE1)10 μg诱导勃起后,行CDFI检查双侧海绵体动脉血流动力学指标,包括收缩期最大流速(PSV)、舒张末期流速(EDV)、阻力指数(RI)及内径(R).结果 PSV和R这两项指标在糖尿病性ED和非糖尿病ED患者中存在差异具有统计学意义,EDV和RI在两组患者中的差异没有统计学意义.糖尿病性ED患者中的动脉性ED明显多于非糖尿病性ED.结论 动脉供血不足在糖尿病性勃起功能障碍发病机制中起着重要作用.阴茎海绵体注射血管活性药物后CDFI对血管性ED检查是一种微创而准确的方法.     

Sildenafil non-responders: haemodynamic and morphometric studies

Objectives:Most of the available data on efficacy for sildenafil are based on a questionnaire and erectile dysfunction (ED) is classified with minor or severe organic factors. To better select sildenafil responders and non-responders, we have conducted a haemodynamic and morphometric study in sildenafil non-responders.Methods:Thirty patients with ED aged from 28 to 74 years-old did not respond to 8 attempts of 100 mg of sildenafil. They underwent hormonal measurements, intracavernous injection (ICI 20 μg PgE₁) followed by Doppler examination and cavernosometry. A penile biopsy was performed under local anesthesia. A quantification of the cavernous smooth muscle (SMC) was performed with a computerized image analysis after staining with actin anti-actin.Results:Twenty-eight patients had a very poor ICI response. Five patients were diabetic and 2 had low testosterone level. Eight patients had arterial lesions, 15 had venous leak and 5 both lesions. They all had reduction of SMC (<35%). No biological and vascular abnormality was observed in two patients. They had a percentage of SMC of 38% and 42%. No complication was observed with the penile biopsy.Conclusions:Severe vascular lesions and atrophy of SMC are mainly observed in sildenafil non-responders. The age, diabetes and low testosterone level seem not to be related with the failures.     

Cavernous artery intima-media thickness predicts the response to sildenafil in erectile dysfunction patients as a morphological parameter

While the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the cavernous artery was used for diagnosis for vascular erectile dysfunction (ED) with more accuracy than the peak systolic velocity, the role of the IMT in predicting treatment responses remained unexamined. A total of 136 patients with ED were enrolled. The baseline clinical and laboratory characteristics were collected. Penile Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) was performed on all patients by a blinded sonographer. Sildenafil was administrated to all patients with an adjusted dose of 50 or 100 mg on demand over a period of 3 months. A follow-up was conducted on all patients using the Erectile Hardness Score (EHS) questionnaire along with the visual and tactile version of the standardised EHS tool. The peak systolic velocity (PSV) and IMT were compared between sildenafil responders and sildenafil nonresponders, while receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to calculate the cut-off values and compare the test power respectively. There was no statistical difference from the baseline characteristics. The IMT of cavernous artery was more accurate than PSV to predict the sildenafil response (AUC = 0.809, 0.626 respectively). IMT could predict sildenafil responders more accurately than PSV, and the cut-off value of the IMT of the cavernous artery was less than 0.22 mm.     

Relationship between penile hemodynamic parameters assessed by color Doppler ultrasonography and penile rigidity recorded by the RigiScan Plus

OBJECTIVE: We studied the relationship between penile hemodynamic parameters assessed by color Doppler ultrasonography and penile rigidity estimated by objective measurement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total 37 patients with erectile dysfunction were examined. After intracavernous injection of 20 microg prostaglandin E1, we measured their penile hemodynamic parameters in the cavernous arteries by color Doppler ultrasonography. Simultaneously, the RigiScan Plus device was used for real-time evaluation of penile rigidity. Hemodynamic parameters were correlated with penile rigidity. RESULTS: Peak systolic velocity and resistive index were significantly correlated with penile tip (r = 0.54, r = 0.72, respectively) and base (r = 0.55, r = 0.76, respectively) rigidity; there was no significant correlation between end-diastolic velocity and penile rigidity. CONCLUSIONS: Peak systolic velocity and resistive index were strongly correlated with penile rigidity in patients with erectile dysfunction during intracavernous pharmacological testing. The resistive index in particular appeared to be the most valid parameter for assessment of penile rigidity.     

Changes in peak systolic velocity induced by chronic therapy with phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of chronic therapy with phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor on penile haemodynamics at colour Doppler ultrasound. Thirty patients affected by erectile dysfunction (ED) of different aetiology tested with the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) were evaluated with penile colour Doppler ultrasound during basic and dynamic phases (10 microg PGE1) before and after chronic self-administration of sildenafil citrate (dosage: 100 mg as required, two to three times a week) for a period of 5-20 months (mean: 12.3). Treatment was interrupted 14-21 days before the second ultrasound evaluation. Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) were recorded by means of colour Doppler; cut off values were 25 and 5 cm s(-1) respectively. Data were compared by nonparametric tests. Twenty-two of the 30 patients showed normal pre-treatment PSV, while eight of 30 had an insufficient arterial flow. Mean pre-treatment EDV was 4.7 +/- 0.5. After chronic therapy with sildenafil, a global improvement of 10.5% on PSV was seen (P < 0.001), without any statistical difference between patients with normal pre-treatment peak and those with a borderline one. No statistically significant changes were found for EDV (P = 0.98). It is concluded that chronic therapy with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor results in a significant improvement in PSV values, probably due to a penile chronic vasoactive enhancement.     

Is sildenafil failure in men after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) due to arterial disease? Penile duplex Doppler findings in 174 men after RRP

Sildenafil is frequently the first-line treatment for post-radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) erectile dysfunction (ED) with maximum treatment satisfaction rates of 43%-80%. The etiology of erectile dysfunction after RRP has been attributed to psychogenic, vascular, veno- occlusive or nerve injury causes. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the penile duplex Doppler arterial parameters in men with ED after RRP who failed sildenafil. The purpose was to assess whether sildenafil failure after RRP is associated with underlying corporal arterial disease. A total of 174 consecutive men presenting with sildenafil refractory ED after nerve-sparing RRP underwent color duplex penile Doppler evaluation with vasoactive injection. Mean age was 59.6 y and mean time from surgery was 11.6 months. Some 81% (141/174) of the men had no pre-operative ED (PED). Significant differences in penile duplex Doppler parameters for arterial disease were seen between men with and without PED. In men without PED, 19% (27/141) manifested arterial insufficiency. However, in men with PED, 50% (16/33) demonstrated arterial disease. Nerve sparing status did not affect the presence of arterial disease. Sildenafil refractory erectile dysfunction after RRP in men without PED is not predominantly associated with penile Doppler parameters consistent with arterial insufficiency.     

Sildenafil citrate vs intracavernous alprostadil for patients with arteriogenic erectile dysfunction: a randomised placebo controlled study

We compared the effectiveness of sildenafil citrate and alprostadil in improving arterial penile inflow (peak systolic velocity (PSV)) and penile rigidity in 55 patients with erectile dysfunction caused by atherosclerosis. A total of 35 patients with pure vasculogenic impotency were randomly assigned to alprostadil (Av group; n=11), sildenafil (Sv group; n=12), or placebo (P group; n=12), and 20 patients with nonvasculogenic impotency were randomly assigned to alprostadil (A group; n=10) or Sildenafil (S group; n=10): Av and A used alprostadil injection (capable of giving a full erection) once a week for 1 month, Sv and S took daily oral sildenafil (25 mg) for 1 month, and P took daily oral placebo for one month. The PSV was measured with Duplex sonography and penile rigidity was assessed using the IIEF-15 questionnaire, both of which were administered before and after treatment. Although both treatments improved penile rigidity, they increased PSV only in the Av and Sv groups. Our results suggest that alprostadil and oral therapy should be the starting therapy in men with vasculogenic impotency, whereas alprostadil should be avoided as the first-line approach in men with nonvasculogenic impotency.     

Efficacy of virtual glasses in audio-visual sexual stimulation during penile color duplex Doppler ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether audio-visual sexual stimulation (AVSS) with virtual glasses is effective in improving the recording of penile hemodynamics during penile color duplex Doppler ultrasonography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 64 consecutive patients with erectile dysfunction underwent penile color duplex Doppler ultrasonography after intracavernosal injection of 10-20 microg prostaglandin El and subsequent genital stimulation. AVSS with virtual glasses and earphones was applied when peak systolic velocities (PSV) were less than 35 cm/s or end diastolic velocities (EDV) were more than 5 cm/s. PSV, EDV and the resistive index of both cavernosal arteries were continuously monitored. Clinical erectile response was assessed with visual inspection and manual palpation. RESULTS: AVSS with virtual glasses was performed on 40 of 64 patients. AVSS improved the clinical erectile response in 26 (65%) of 40 patients. Doppler ultrasonography without AVSS identified 11 (27.5%), 5 (12.5%), and 24 (60%) patients with arteriogenic, veno-occlusive, and mixed-type impotence, respectively. However, after real-time AVSS 15 (37.5%), 7 (17.5%), 8 (20%), and 10 (25%) patients demonstrated non-vasculogenic, arteriogenic, veno-occlusive, and mixed-type impotence, respectively. Real-time AVSS improved the Doppler wave forms in 65% of cases. CONCLUSION: AVSS with virtual glasses improves the recording of physiologic erectile response and may be used as a valuable tool during penile color duplex Doppler ultrasonography.     

服用小剂量他达那非对动脉性勃起功能障碍患者临床疗效的观察

目的:观察服用小剂量磷酸二酯酶-5(PDE5)抑制剂他达那非对动脉性勃起功能障碍(ED)患者的疗效。方法:对43例动脉性ED患者采用了疗程为4周的隔日小剂量(5 mg)晚餐后口服他达那非的用药方案,在治疗前后进行IIEF-5评分同时用彩色多普勒超声联合阴茎血管活性药物前列腺素(PGE-1)注射实验,检测阴茎双侧海绵体动脉的收缩期最大流速(PSV)。结果:经统计学分析,IIEF-5评分以及阴茎双侧海绵体动脉的PSV在治疗4周后有显著提高(P<0.05)。结论:口服小剂量他达那非能有效提高动脉性ED患者阴茎海绵体动脉的收缩期最大流速,改善患者的勃起质量。     

Sildenafil versus intracavernous injection therapy: efficacy and preference in patients on intracavernous injection for more than 1 year

PURPOSE: To our knowledge comparative data on the effectiveness of and patient preference for intracavernous injection therapy and sildenafil are still not available. We evaluated the efficacy of sildenafil as well as patient preference in a group of impotent men on intracavernous injection for more than a year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients on intracavernous injection therapy for more than a year without neurological disease and/or a contraindication to sildenafil treatment were recruited for study. In phase 1 we determined the efficacy of 50 and 100 mg. sildenafil citrate at home. In phase 2 responders to sildenafil were asked to use the preferred dose orally for a month and choose intracavernous injection or sildenafil. In phase 3 patients were asked to continue either treatment for 3 more months. Patient preferences were reported at the end of phases 2 and 3. RESULTS: Of the 180 men recruited 155 with a mean age of 56.4 +/- 12.6 years on intracavernous injection for a mean of 26 +/- 9 months accepted and were included in our series. Overall 116 men (74.8%) responded to sildenafil during study phase 1. After 1 month of treatment 71 responders (61.2%) preferred to continue with the oral drug, 31 (26.7%) returned to intracavernous injection and 14 (12.1%) used each drug alternately. Three months later 74 of the 116 responders (63.8%) preferred oral treatment and 38 (32.8%) chose intracavernous injection, while 4 (3. 4%) continued to use each treatment alternately. CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil is highly effective in intracavernous injection responders, although a certain group prefer to continue intracavernous injection. While sildenafil should be considered first line treatment, men with erectile dysfunction should be aware of all treatment options available because nonresponders to sildenafil may respond to intracavernous injection.     

彩色多普勒超声检查在血管性勃起功能障碍诊断中的应用

目的:评估彩色多普勒超声在诊断血管性勃起功能障碍中的临床价值。方法:应用彩色多普勒超声技术,检测527例疑似血管性勃起功能障碍患者,海绵体注射血管活性药物前、后阴茎海绵体动脉血流动力学。结果:动脉性勃起功能障碍207例(49.88%),静脉性勃起功能障碍144例(34.70%),动静脉性勃起功能障碍64例(15.42%),非血管性勃起功障碍112例(26.99%)。结论:彩色多普勒超声技术是目前诊断血管性勃起功能障碍的一种微创而可靠的检查方法,其能够定量反映阴茎的血流动力学状态,为合理的治疗勃起功能障碍提供有价值的依据。     

彩色双功能多普勒超声联合夜间阴茎勃起测定对骨盆骨折后阴茎勃起功能的评价(附34例分析)

目的探讨骨盆骨折对ED患者阴茎勃起功能的影响程度,并寻求较佳的评价方法。方法34例骨盆骨折后ED患者,给予海绵体内注射血管活性药物(ICI,酚妥拉明1mg、罂粟碱30mg)并行彩色双功能多普勒超声(CDDU)检查阴茎血流动力学,结合夜间阴茎勃起测定(NPT)连续3夜测定阴茎勃起次数、持续时间、血容积的变化情况。结果34例骨盆骨折后ED患者的阴茎海绵体动脉收缩期最大血流速度(PSV)左侧为(23.778.6)1cm/s,右侧为(24.086.7)7cm/s;动脉舒张期最小血流速度(EDV)左侧为(2.3033.2)5cm/s,右侧为(3.361.5)2cm/s;阴茎血管阻力指数(RI)为0.910.1。2全部病例均存在NPT异常,血容积变化率为(162.6830.4)8%;结论CDDU NPT可以作为骨盆骨折后ED的一种有效评价方法。     

脊柱或骨盆损伤后阴茎勃起功能障碍的病因分析

目的 分析脊柱或骨盆损伤后阴茎勃起功能障碍(ED)的可能病因.方法 回顾性分析2005-2009年收治的67例因脊柱或骨盆损伤后ED患者资料.年龄18 ～64岁,平均32岁.伤后时间3～144个月,平均38个月.其中骨盆骨折56例(84％),脊柱外伤11例(16％).患者自诉受伤前性功能正常.患者在未服用或停用PDE-5抑制剂的情况下进行IIEF-5评分、夜间勃起监测(NPT,Rigiscan系统,连续检测3晚)、阴茎彩色多普勒超声(CDU)检查.NPT检测夜间勃起＜3次,每次阴茎头部勃起硬度＜70％,时间＜ 10 min诊断为器质性ED.阴茎Ⅳ度勃起情况下,CDU检查峰收缩期速率(PSV)＜ 25 cm/s诊断为动脉性ED;PSV＞ 25 cm/s,舒张末期速率(EDV) ＞5 cm/s诊断为静脉性ED;排除其他原因的器质性ED诊断为神经性ED.结果 62例患者在6个月内未尝试性生活,5例患者IIEF-5评分5～8分.NPT检测证实62例患者均为器质性ED,其中骨盆骨折患者中神经性ED 24例(43％),动脉性ED 22例(39％),静脉性ED 10例(18％);脊柱外伤患者均为神经性ED.结论 骨盆骨折或脊柱外伤可导致器质性ED.骨盆骨折导致的ED可能合并血管性因素,而脊柱外伤所致ED为神经性.     

Significance of phentolamine redosing during prostaglandin E1 penile color Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosis of vascular erectile dysfunction

Recently, it was reported that phentolamine redosing during penile duplex can abolish a false diagnosis of venous leakage in patients with impotence. The aim of this study is to identify any useful role of phentolamine redosing in diagnosis of venogenic impotence. Sixty-seven consecutive patients complaining of weak erection for at least 6 months were included in this study. Penile color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) was performed using a 7.5 MHz linear array transducer with a color flow mapping capability. Following intracavernous injection of 20 microg prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), all patients with persistent end diastolic velocity (EDV) >5 cm/sec with an erectile response of E3 or lower, 20 min after intracavernosal injection of PGE1, were asked to revisit our clinic for a second CDU, 2 weeks later. During initial CDU examination, all 67 patients experienced poor response to 20 microg PGE1 with their average peak systolic velocity (PSV) and EDV being 42.8 and 6.6 cm/sec, respectively. The second CDU examination had similar results to the first one. Addition of 2 mg phentolamine did not significantly change the PSV and EDV of cavernosal arteries in any of the 67 patients. In conclusion, addition of intracavernous phentolamine during PGE1 CDU examination carries no advantage over the use of PGE1 alone regarding cavernosal artery response in patients with suspected venogenic EDV.     

Efficacy, safety and patient acceptance of sildenafil citrate as treatment for erectile dysfunction

PURPOSE: We assessed the efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate as treatment for erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 433 completely evaluated men with chronic erectile dysfunction were treated with sildenafil citrate. Response was assessed prospectively by baseline and followup physician interviews, and by a patient self-administered 15-item questionnaire on the domains of patient treatment response and satisfaction, partner treatment satisfaction, comparative previous treatment satisfaction, adverse effects, and patient and partner quality of life. RESULTS: Of the 304 men (70.2%) who completed the questionnaire 278 received sildenafil, including 186 who previously had undergone treatment for erectile dysfunction, principally involving intracavernous injection therapy. A response was elicited by a median dose of 100 mg. in 188 patients (67.6%) who achieved erection suitable for sexual intercourse. Those with psychogenic erectile dysfunction responded significantly better than those with organic dysfunction (p <0.001). Erection suitable for intercourse was attained by 30.8% of patients with erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy and 80% with cavernous veno-occlusive dysfunction. Of previous intracavernous injection responders 29.9% were refractory to sildenafil, while 33. 3% of previous intracavernous injection nonresponders responded to sildenafil. The sildenafil response was considered inferior to the intracavernous injection response by 43.6% of the men who previously responded to intracavernous injection, of whom 51.5% continued to receive intracavernous injection as the only treatment (19.5%) or as an alternative to sildenafil (32%). Adverse effects in 53.6% of cases were assessed as mild in 56.4%, moderate in 38.3% and severe in 5.3%. Multiple adverse effects were reported by 62.4% of patients, while 17 (6.1%) discontinued sildenafil as a direct result of intolerable adverse effects. The most common adverse effects were facial flushing in 33.5% of cases, headaches in 23.4%, nasal congestion in 12.6%, dyspepsia in 10.1% and dizziness in 10.8%. Baseline patient and partner quality of life scores significantly improved after sildenafil treatment (p <0.001), while significantly improved quality of life was noticed by 51.5% and 43.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil citrate is effective oral first line treatment for erectile dysfunction. Although more than 50% of men reported adverse effects, most were considered mild and rarely resulted in treatment cessation. There was a trend in those on intracavernous injection who responded to sildenafil to continue intracavernous injection as the only therapy or as an alternative to sildenafil. Also, we noted that some cases refractory to sildenafil responded to intracavernous injection. These findings imply that intracavernous injection remains an effective erectile dysfunction treatment option.