Penile Surgery - Priapism

Penile surgery for priapism may be needed when an erection lasts for over four hours. Priapism is the opposite of erectile dysfunction instead of not having enough blood entering the corpus cavernousum or maintaining it there to keep an erection, in priapism the blood flow goes into the corpus cavernousum and does not leave it, so the erection will not go down. This is a medical emergency because damage to the penis can occur over time.

Priapism can be caused by many things but the most common is the abuse of erectile dysfunction medication such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Muse. Other causes of priapism are anti-depression medications, marijuana, cocaine, black widow spider venom, sickle cell anemia, cancerous growths in the penis, and trauma.

If you have an erection for four hours you need to seek medical help and you must give accurate information about the drug and amount of drugs you have had. This means you have to give the total dosage of any erectile dysfunction medication that you have taken, any anti-depression medications, cocaine or marijuana also. You should also give the time it was when you got the erection. This information gives the doctor accurate data to analyze along with your medical history, a quick physical and results from a blood test to decide what type if solution needs to be used to get the erection down. Initially a cold compress can be applied or medication can be given to narrow the blood vessels in the penis. If these do not work then drawing blood out of the penis with a syringe can help or possibly placing a shunt (tube) into the penis to redirect the blood flow back into your body.

Penis surgery for priapism in the case of trauma to the blood vessels may make it necessary to tie off an artery. If priapism does occur and your emergency visit is successful then you need to be more vigilant as to the causes that made it happen. Vascular damage to the penis may have occurred so make sure your urologist that has experience in erectile dysfunction diagnostics to evaluate your blood flow. If you use medication prior to sexual activity, balancing the dosage correctly is important, so that a viscous cycle of over use of erectile dysfunction medication, doesn’t turn into another bout of priapism, creating more penis damage. If you have any questions please read our blog or send Dr. Gheiler a question in our Ask the Doctor section or call (305) 822-7227.

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