[Purulent cavernitis as a complication of self injection into the cavernous body]

Intracavernous self-injection of vasoactive drugs is commonly prescribed for the treatment of erectile failure. Cavernitis is a serious complication of this treatment. The case of a 63-years-old patient with cavernitis following intracavernous injection of papaverine and subsequent priapism is reported. He had a phlegmonous infection of both corpora cavernosa without infection of the corpus spongiosum. The treatment consisted in surgical debridement of the corpora cavernosa with intracavernous drains inserted for continued irrigation and suction. Complete remission of the infection was ultimately obtained, but fibrosis of the remnants of both corpora cavernosa remained.