The effect of papaverine on arterial and venous hemodynamics of erection

The aim of this study was to establish how much of the erectogenic effect of papaverine is due to arterial dilatation and how much to venous obstruction during artificial erection. Three consecutive cavernosographies were done on each of 10 psychogenic impotent patients: a baseline run without papaverine; a run with papaverine (60 mg. intracavernously) after occlusion of arterial supply to the corpora cavernosa with balloon catheters inflated at the origin of the hypogastric arteries; and a third run after restoring arterial blood supply to the corpora. The measured flow rates indicated that during cavernosography in papaverine-induced erection, the major effect of papaverine is to increase the resistance to venous outflow from the corpora cavernosa.