The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of priapism: review of the American Foundation for Urologic Disease Consensus Panel Report.

Priapism is an important medical condition that requires immediate evaluation, and depending on etiology, may require emergency management. Based on the classification scheme offered by a recent consensus panel, priapism can be subdivided into ischemic and nonischemic types. The nonischemic type, usually the result of perineal trauma, can be treated with conservative therapy, whereas the nonischemic type, which arises from many varied causes, mandates immediate intervention. Corporal fibrosis and permanent erectile dysfunction can result from ischemic priapism that fails to resolve with therapy.