[Action of vasoactive drugs in male sexual impotence]

Intracavernous injection of papaverine and phentolamine (Regitine) was performed in 223 impotent men. These patients had been previously evaluated at another department. Patient failure to obtain spontaneous erection during sleep or on waking was a prerequisite for inclusion in the study. Following evaluation of the penile brachial pressure index (PBI), patients under 50 years received an intracavernous injection of 0.5 mg. Regitine and papaverine 30 mg; patients over 50 years received 1 mg. Regitine and 30 mg. papaverine. Patients were observed for a minimum of 30 minutes. Fifty-eight attained erection and the remaining patients achieved varying degrees of penile tumescence. Patients were advised to have sexual intercourse within two hours following injection. Fifty-eight patients attained erection immediately and 132 achieved erection following immediate sexual stimulation. Of these 132 patients, 72 (54.5%) had successful sexual intercourse, 60 (45.5%) failed to obtain erection sufficient for coitus. We are unaware of the result in the remaining 33 patients who had none or late sexual stimulation. Of the 58 patients who achieved erection, the PBI could be quantified in 53 (mean 0.84). Likewise, the PBI could be determined in the 141 patients who had failed to achieve erection immediately (mean 0.77). Priapism was the only serious complication observed. Seven (3.1%) patients who presented with this condition were treated with the intracavernous injection of dopamine.