Comparative evaluation of impotence with vibration and nocturnal monitoring.

Vibratory stimuli were used for diagnostic evaluation of 130 impotent patients. The stimuli were applied to the glans penis, and erectile response was measured and displayed on a recorder. The erectile response to vibration was compared with nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) monitoring and to artificially produced full erection. At the present time vibratory stimuli do not represent an alternative diagnostic method to NPT. However, the two methods are complementary. Erectile activity during vibration was detected in 43 of 130 patients. For these 43 patients further evaluation with NPT monitoring would not be necessary. Because vibration evaluation is performed as an outpatient procedure, it can contribute to a significant cost reduction in the evaluation of impotent patients.