[Complications of intracavernous pharmacologic infusion in impotence. Long-term results]

The large scale employment in recent years of vasoactive drugs in the treatment of impotence forms the basis for a significant statistical study on incidence of complications and collateral effects. We studied 658 patients submitted to ICF (intracavernous pharmacoinfusion) diagnostic and therapeutic in the last 6 years (1986-1992). The patients have been shared groups according to the period and the treatment: in 226 cases we have utilized papaverine, in 224 cases phentolamine-papaverine association and in 208 cases prostaglandin E1. In the last group the complications have been lower: echymosis and haematoma 0.5%, priapism 1.5%, intracavernous fibrosis 1%, fibrotic knots 0.5%. In conclusion we confirm the validity of treatment with PGE1 intracavernous infusion.