Percutaneous penile venoablation for treatment of impotence

Percutaneous penile venoablation with sclerosing agents and coils was performed in 58 patients. Of 104 ablations attempted, 44 of 51 (86%) transpenile, and 46 of 53 (86.7%) retrograde interventions were technically successful. In 40 patients (69%) erectile function improved (intercourse was possible in 21 without additional measures). Initially improved erectile function deteriorated in 24 patients during follow-up (in an average of 6 months); in 15 of these, intercourse was still possible with injection of vasoactive drugs. In 7 patients, repeat venoablation improved erectile function again. Hot contrast medium was slightly superior to sodium morrhuate as a sclerosing agent. In successfully treated patients, the average decrease in venous leakage was 30 ml/min vs 13 ml/min in treatment failures, with considerable overlap between both groups. Only minor complications were observed. We conclude that percutaneous penile venoablation is technically feasible, and safe. Whether the procedure will have a definite role in the treatment of venogenic impotence, however, still has to be determined.