Priapism: a three-phase concept of management according to aetiology and prognosis

Priapism is a persistent, painful erection of the penis unassociated with sexual stimulation or desire, and detumescence does not occur following ejaculation. Prolonged pathological erections may occur and it is only when they are painful that the term priapism should be used. The erection is limited to the corpora cavernosa. Although the syndrome was named after Priapos, the mythical Greek god of fertility, impotence persists in one half of patients treated for priapism. The disease is rare; the literature consists mainly of case reports and comprehensive reviews are seldom found. Permanent sequelae cause a psychological and physical handicap and justify the present review, which is based upon recent literature as well as personal clinical experience of 15 patients. We have reviewed 170 reports describing 1400 cases of priapism and have based the analysis upon the 230 single case reports found in the literature.