[High-flow priapism in the pediatric age: review].

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature on high flow priapism in children and analyze the etiology, pathophysiological mechanism, diagnostic tests, treatment and complications.

METHODS

The literature is reviewed and an additional case of posttraumatic arterial priapism in an 11 year-old boy treated at our hospital is presented.

RESULTS

24 cases of high flow priapism in children were found; 18 had a history of genitoperineal trauma, 5 had sickle cell anemia and one child had Fabry's disease. Diagnosis was based on patient history, intracavernous blood gases and echo doppler findings. Fourteen patients with posttraumatic priapism, one patient with sickle cell anemia and the child with Fabry's disease were treated by pudendal arteriography with embolization. The immediate results and erectile function were good.

CONCLUSIONS

Genitoperineal trauma is the most common cause of arterial priapism in children. High flow must be considered in children with sickle cell disease and priapism that do not respond to conventional treatment. Pudendal arteriography with embolization is the treatment of choice. Erectile function is recovered after treatment.