A new caverno-spongiosum shunt with saphenous vein patch graft for established priapism

Caverno-spongiosum shunt is the procedure of choice to achieve detumescence in established priapism before fibrosis of erectile tissue causes impotence. The corpora cavernosum and spongiosum, however, possess different suture holding properties. This results in excessive stretch of the urethra postoperatively. This caused a localized urethro-cutaneous fistula in one of our patients. A new technique for constructing the caverno-spongiosum shunt using autogenous saphenous vein patch graft in the remaining patients has been found to be more satisfactory than the conventional procedure. The new procedure, its advantages and its only drawback of increased operating time are described.