Long-term results with penile vein ligation for venogenic impotence

Penile vein ligation for venogenic impotence was performed on 15 patients between 1989 and 1992. Preoperative evaluation included color flow Doppler ultrasound, and dynamic infusion cavernosogram and cavernosometry with vasoactive substance injection. All operations were performed by 1 surgeon via an inguinoscrotal incision by excising the deep dorsal, cavernous and, if necessary, crural veins. All patients were interviewed using a structured telephone questionnaire from 19 to 45 months (mean 29) postoperatively. Postoperative potency was defined as erections sufficient for unaided coitus on more than 75% of attempts and was present in 9 patients (60%). The 2 failures had temporary improvement within the first 6 months. The only significant preoperative variable in assessing postoperative potency was the duration of erectile dysfunction before penile vein ligation: median 60 months (range 48 to 120) in the impotent group and median 24 months (range 12 to 168) in the potent group (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test). No correlation was found with systolic and diastolic arterial flow or resistive index as assessed by color flow Doppler evaluation, sites of leakage or patient age at operation. Similarly, no correlation was found with preoperative dynamic infusion cavernosometry maintenance rates. The most common complication was contracture of the penis in 6 patients (40%), although only 1 complained of a functional disturbance. We demonstrated favorable long-term results with an extensive venous ligation. While preoperative assessment with color flow Doppler ultrasound, dynamic infusion cavernosography and cavernosometry, and vasoactive substance injection establishes a diagnosis of corporeal veno-occlusive dysfunction, this evaluation provides no predictive indicators for successful outcomes in penile vein ligation.