Neurological risk profile in organic erectile impotence

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1992 Apr;55(4):275-81. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.55.4.275.

Abstract

Thirty men who presented with erectile impotence to the urological department underwent a thorough urological, angiological, and neurological examination with complementary neurophysiological tests of somatosensory and sympathetic and parasympathetic function. Most had vascular and neurological abnormalities. Clinical findings and electrophysiological tests for autonomic dysfunction had the highest yield of abnormal results. Nerve conduction studies and pudendal nerve somatosensory evoked potentials were far less informative. The lack of correlation between vascular and general neurological abnormalities emphasises that patients must be screened for both vascular and neurological dysfunction to prevent unrewarding vascular operation in impotent men.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Erectile Dysfunction / etiology
  • Erectile Dysfunction / physiopathology*
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / physiology
  • Galvanic Skin Response / physiology
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination*
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Penis / innervation
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Reflex / physiology
  • Respiration / physiology
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology