Pharmacocavernometry-cavernography in impotence

Abstract

Cavernometry and cavernography before and after injection of papaverine into the corpus cavernosum were performed in five psychogenically impotent patients and in 30 patients with organic impotence demonstrated by penile plethysmography. The flow necessary to provoke an erection in the psychogenic patients and in the 20 patients without venous leakage ranged from 80 to 120 ml/min and was reduced to 20 to 65 ml/min after injection of papaverine. In the 10 patients with venous leakage the flow necessary to create an erection ranged from 160 to 250 ml/min; after injection of papaverine it decreased to 50 to 120 ml/min and remained higher than in the two former groups. Although cavernography-cavernometry with papaverine injection correlates better with the physiological status of the erectile mechanism it provides no more information than when used alone.