General Information About Priapism
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the condition where the penis remains rigidly and painfully erect for more than 4 hours, without sexual stimulation or long after sexual intercourse has ended.
Incorrect dosage of intracavernosal injections used to treat impotence, certain psychiatric medications/antidepressants, illicit drugs, and blood disorders such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia are the most common causes.
Since the blood that fills the penis during an erection cannot drain back, it becomes deprived of oxygen. The deoxygenated blood becomes acidic, poisoning and causing necrosis in the penile tissue (cavernous structures). If 24 hours pass, the patient may suffer from permanent, lifelong impotence (inability to achieve an erection).
Ischemic (Low-flow): It is the emergent type where blood is trapped in the penis, causing extreme pain, rock-hard rigidity, and leading to tissue death.
Non-Ischemic (High-flow): It is generally caused by a blood vessel torn by trauma to the perineum continuously pumping blood into the penis; it is painless and does not pose an immediate threat.
The shaft of the penis is rock hard, but the head (glans) is usually soft. As hours pass, an increasingly unbearable pain and a sense of pressure begin.
In the emergency room, local anesthesia is applied to the penis. The trapped dark/deoxygenated blood is drained with a thick needle (aspiration), and vasoconstrictive medication (adrenaline/phenylephrine) is irrigated into the area. If this procedure fails, a T-Shunt (creating a new pathway for blood drainage) surgery is performed in the operating room.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
