[Priapism in the adult: report of 15 cases]

The practical approach to the treatment of priapism is complicated by the rarity of this disease. Treatments for impotence by intracavernous injection of vasodilators have considerably increased the incidence of prolonged erections, although "antidote" protocols, when instituted rapidly, ensure detumescence in most cases. The objective of this study was to define a practical and rigorous approach based on comparison of our results with those reported in the literature concerning the management of priapism.

This series consists of fifteen consecutive cases observed in adults over a ten-year period. The pathophysiology and aetiologies are recalled. The authors evaluate the percentage of detumescence after primary treatment and after retreatment and discuss the incidence of secondary impotence. This information is compared with the data of the literature in order to define a practical approach.

After a trial intracavernous injection of vasoconstrictors, creation of a cavernospongiosa fistula provided the best results with a 60% detumescence rate after primary treatment and 80% after retreatment. All treatments combined, 53.3% of good results were obtained after primary treatment and 66.7% after retreatment. In the long-term, 50% of patients with a sufficient follow-up are impotent.

As a result of systematic surveillance of patients treated by an intracavernous injection protocol, the number of priapisms induced in our institution has remained stable over recent years. Patients treated for priapism within 36 hours have a better short-term and long-term prognosis.