Cavernosography in conjunction with artificial erection for evaluation of venous leakage in impotent men

Twenty men with incomplete penile erection or inability to maintain an erection were evaluated to determine if venous leakage was a cause. Cavernosography was performed in conjunction with artificial erection induced by infusion of saline into the corpus cavernosa. Thirteen patients requiring higher than normal rates of saline infusion to achieve or maintain erection showed filling of superficial veins in the flaccid state as well as during erection. In five of the seven patients with normal saline requirements there was no filling of superficial veins, and two showed filling in the flaccid state only. Of the thirteen patients whose conditions were diagnosed as venous leakage, seven underwent surgical ligation of superficial veins and deep penile vein arterialization by a saphenous vein bypass graft between the superficial femoral artery and deep penile vein. All these patients had reduced saline requirements postoperatively. When cavernosography is performed in the flaccid state only, filling of superficial veins can occur normally; therefore, these studies should be performed with artificial erection.