Epigastrico-cavernous anastomosis in the treatment of arteriogenic impotence.

During the period August 1980--January 1982 nine patients were treated for erectile impotence due to arterial insufficiency in the penis, with epigastrico-cavernous anastomosis. Two patients had no effect of the operation. Two patients developed priapism postoperatively and one of these lost his potency probably because of delayed treatment, while the other remained potent. Of the remaining five patients three lost the regained potency within one year, and two are still potent 21 and 24 months after the operation. It is concluded that the long term results of the epigastrico-cavernous anastomosis is unsatisfactory and that new approaches for revascularization of the cavernous bodies in arteriogenic impotence are required.