Priapism in children: treatment with embolotherapy

Priapism is defined as involuntary, prolonged penile erection caused by factors other than sexual arousal, and is classified as either low-flow or high-flow. Embolotherapy is an accepted form of therapy in adults with high-flow priapism. Because the differences in etiology, management and outcome are significant, accurate and timely diagnosis is imperative.

The purpose of this report is to present our experience with embolotherapy for treatment of high-flow priapism in three children.

This was a retrospective study. During an 18-month period, three boys ranging in age from 6 to 15 years presented with priapism. All three children were treated with embolotherapy.

All three children were successfully treated with angiography and embolotherapy. One boy had a presentation that initially raised the possibility of low-flow priapism. No complications occurred, and to date all children are able to maintain normal erections.

Subselective transcatheter embolization is the procedure of choice for high-flow priapism. In cases where priapism persists despite adequate therapy, angiography might be useful to exclude high-flow disease. In children with high-flow priapism, selective occlusion of the penile arteriovenous fistula led to detumescence and normal erectile function.