Long-term results of corpus cavernosum autoinjection therapy for chronic erectile dysfunction

Between May 1985 and March 1992, 172 patients suffering from chronic erectile dysfunction (21-70 years old) underwent constant corpus cavernosum autoinjection therapy (CAT) with a standardized papaverine phentolamine mixture (16385 injections). Thereafter 41 patients continued CAT with the single agent papaverine (1257 injections). On the basis of both these 17642 protocol auto-injections, and over 6 years of experience with intracavernosal autoinjection therapy we conclude that, especially with the papaverine-phentolamine mixture, CAT constitutes an effective therapy (full rigidity in 95.8%) with tolerable side-effects for chronic erectile dysfunction when preceded by careful patient selection and thorough multi-disciplinary evaluation. This is especially so in the case of arterial and/or neurogenic aetiology of the erectile dysfunction. In addition, the contraindications must be strictly observed, the treatment and technique fully explained, and a regular follow-up instituted. CAT is generally well accepted by the patients and their partners (98.8%/97.6%) and has distinct positive effects on self-esteem (77.8%), performance anxiety (84.4%), and partnership (79.5%). The most serious side-effect was prolonged erection (25 out of 17642 injections). In 6 patients reversible fibrotic changes near the tunica albuginea were observed.