Penile plethysmography on impotent men using vacuum constrictor devices

Vacuum constrictor devices achieve an erection-like state of the penis by means of a clear plastic cylinder, a vacuum pump, and a constrictor ring. Although these devices are noninvasive compared with penile injections and implants, they have been used less often in clinical practice. Part of the hesitancy to prescribe these devices has been related to the lack of published data concerning the effects of constriction on penile blood flow. In this report, we utilized penile plethysmography to estimate penile blood flow on 51 men before, during, and after the use of the constrictor ring. All patients demonstrated a 70-75 percent decline in the amplitude of the pulse-volume curve during constriction, but continuous blood flow was maintained in each case. Within sixty seconds after removal of the ring, the amplitude returned to baseline values for all men, including 12 patients with a penile brachial index of less than 0.7. Among 33 patients, there was evidence of a transient increase of amplitude following constriction, which was consistent with a postischemic hyperemia. These findings suggest normal penile blood flow, and indicate that the use of constrictor rings may be safe for patients with these tracings. Penile plethysmography appears to be a useful technique to help with patient selection and constrictor ring fit. Follow-up tracings probably should be scheduled at periodic intervals for men utilizing these rings and devices.