Analysis of microsurgical penile revascularization results by etiology of impotence

We reviewed the results of microsurgical penile revascularization, with or without a combined procedure to correct cavernosal venous leakage, in 50 consecutive patients with vasculogenic impotence. All patients underwent an extensive preoperative evaluation, including dynamic infusion cavernosography and cavernosometry, and selective penile arteriography. Overall 48% (24 patients) had an excellent postoperative result, 40% (20 patients) were improved and 12% (6 patients) failed, with a median followup of 24 months (range 19 to 56). Furthermore, these results appear durable with no significant difference in length of followup between groups irrespective of surgical outcome (p > 0.05). Analysis of surgical outcomes by preoperative etiology of impotence (pure arterial versus arterial combined with corporeal venous dysfunction) revealed a statistically significant advantage of an excellent surgical outcome in patients with pure arterial impotence compared to those with mixed etiology with results of 67% and 42%, respectively (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in outcome when patients were analyzed with respect to age or duration of impotence (p > 0.05). We conclude that in patients with arteriogenic impotence identification of concomitant corporeal veno-occlusive dysfunction diagnosed by preoperative dynamic infusion cavernosography and cavernosometry may be helpful, not only in planning a more physiological surgical procedure but also in predicting long-term postoperative success.