Priapism--conservative treatment versus surgical procedures.

Fourteen patients with priapism have been treated over the last 12 years. Two patients had a recurrence 2 and 5 years after the primary incident. Abuse of alcohol (often combined with psychotropic drugs) and the use of antihypertensive drugs were the most prominent aetiological factors. Three out of 9 patients treated conservatively and 5 out of 6 patients treated with a shunt procedure have preserved their erection ability. Our results indicate that conservative treatment is not justified and that a shunt procedure should be performed with the least possible delay.