Chronic post-traumatic high-flow priapism treated with temporary gelatin sponge embolization

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Vascular Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Priapism, a persistent erection, can arise from various causes, including trauma.
• High-flow priapism, often resulting from arteriocorporal fistulas, requires specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Observation:

• A 26-year-old male presented with a 3-month history of non-painful, persistent erection following perineal trauma.
• Color Doppler ultrasound revealed an arteriocorporal fistula with turbulent flow between the right cavernosal artery and corpus cavernosum, indicative of high-flow priapism.

Findings:

• Superselective embolization using Gelatin sponge was performed to treat the arteriocorporal fistula.
• The procedure was safe and effective, leading to temporary embolization with long-term penile detumescence.

Implications:

• Gelatin sponge embolization offers a viable treatment for high-flow priapism secondary to arteriocorporal fistulas.
• This minimally invasive approach successfully preserved erectile function while resolving the persistent erection.