[High-flow priapism: a rare, easily treatable disorder with excellent prognosis]

Four patients, men aged 33, 37, 37 and 12 years, were examined because of priapism following trauma. In all four high-flow priapism was diagnosed, based on intracavernous blood gas analysis and selective angiography. One of the men aged 37 was subsequently found to be suffering from low-flow priapism caused by chronic myeloid leukaemia (the blood gas analysis had been performed after decompression of the cavernous body). Two other patients were treated by selective internal pudendal artery embolisation. In the fourth, who developed a vascular spasm at angiography, embolisation was not performed: he recovered spontaneously. In contrast to high-flow priapism, low-flow priapism is an urological emergency for diagnosis and treatment to prevent permanent impotence.