Non-visualization versus normal appearance of cavernous arteries on selective internal pudendal pharmaco-angiograms: comparison with duplex scanning, cavernosal artery systolic occlusion pressure and penile brachial index.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether selective internal pudendal pharmaco-angiography (SIPA) is the most reliable diagnostic procedure for evaluating the function of the cavernosal arteries.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Both sides of the selective internal pudendal pharmaco-angiogram taken in 35 patients (70 cases), whose history was suggestive of post-traumatic arteriogenic impotence, were evaluated separately and compared to the corresponding side using the penile brachial index (PBI), duplex scanning and cavernosal artery systolic occlusion pressure (CASOP).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the peak flow velocity and diameter changes of the cavernosal arteries on duplex scanning, in pressure differences between the brachial artery systolic pressure and the CASOP, and in the PBI between the group with a normal appearance on SIPA and the other where the cavernosal arteries were not visualized. There was no significant difference in the results of these functional evaluations between the normal group and cases where the cavernosal arteries were not visualized accompanied by a completely obstructed internal pudendal artery or common penile artery visible on SIPA.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is unable to confirm the value of SIPA in evaluating the function of the cavernosal arteries as it provides only anatomical information.