Traumatic laceration of intracavernosal arteries: the pathophysiology of nonischemic, high flow, arterial priapism

Abstract

Two forms of priapism are known to occur. The more common type, veno-occlusive priapism, presents with a prolonged painful erection, and it is characterized by ischemia and pooling of blood within the corpora cavernosa. The less common form, high flow priapism, is characterized by lack of pain and ischemia. The pathophysiology of this disorder is poorly understood and the treatment is unclear. We report 2 cases of nonischemic priapism, one of which occurred after blunt perineal trauma and the other after intracavernosal self-injection with papaverine and phentolamine. Based on our 2 cases as well as a review of the literature (5 cases), we propose that the pathophysiological mechanism of this disorder is unregulated arterial inflow into the corpora, classify it as arterial priapism, and describe a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for its management.