Application of pudendal evoked potentials in diagnosis of erectile dysfunction

Extensive neurophysiological investigations were carried out in 100 healthy subjects and 84 patients with penile erectile dysfunction.

Following examinations were performed, spinal and scalp somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to stimulation of the dorsal nerve of penis, motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from bulbocavernosus (BC) in response to scalp and spinal root stimulation, and measurement of sacral reflex latency (SRL) from anal sphincter (AS).

In the healthy subjects, the mean sensory total conduction time (sensory TCT), as measured at the peak of the scalp P1 (P40) wave was 39.73 ms. The mean sensory central conduction time (sensory CCT = spinal-to-scalp conduction time) was 28.98 ms. The mean peripheral conduction time (PCP) was 9.40 ms. Transcranial brain stimulation was performed by using a magnetic stimulator during voluntary contraction of the examined muscle. Spinal root stimulation was performed at rest. Motor total conduction time (motor TCT) to BC muscles was 20.48 ms. Motor central conduction time (motor CCT) to sacral cord segments controlling BC muscles was 14.42 ms at rest. The mean SRL was 35.13 ms.

Combined or isolated abnormalities of SEPs, MEPs, and SRL were found in patients with erectile dysfunction.