Objective: To evaluate deep penile arterial flow after an intracavernosal injection with papaverine in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED).
Patients and methods: Twenty patients with ED were evaluated using power Doppler ultrasonography with a linear probe (8 MHz). Diagnostic tests were undertaken after an intracavernosal injection with 40 mg papaverine. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI) were analysed.
Results: After injecting papaverine, seven patients had a normal erection and appropriate waveform patterns; their mean PSV was 30.7 cm/s, the EDV 4.42 cm/s and the RI 0.85. There was tumescence and elongation of the penis with no rigidity in eight patients; their mean PSV was 23.9 cm/s, the EDV 7.34 cm/s and the RI 0.72. There was no erection in five patients. The abnormal flow values showed insufficient arterial vessels in a quarter of the men, venous leakage in 15% and mixed ED in 20%.
Conclusion: The power Doppler technique allows the accurate location and evaluation of deep penile arteries. Vascular pathology may be differentiated after an intracavernosal injection with a vasomotor agent. Recognising the pathological pattern assists in choosing the best method of treatment.