Achieving detumescence of ischemic priapism with intra-cavernosal injection of fentanyl: an unexpected outcome of miscommunication error.

The current case describes an interesting event in a male patient in which detumescence of an ischemic priapism was obtained following an inadvertent intra-cavernosal injection of fentanyl mistaken for phenylephrine. Detumescence was achieved after injecting a total of 4.0 mls. Patient tolerated the procedure well and his vital signs were stable throughout the entire process. The possible causes of such an outcome as well as the miscommunication that has lead to such an injection are discussed.