[Current status of the study of genital sympathetic evoked potentials in the assessment of impotence].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the usefulness of penile sympathetic skin response (PSSR) in the study of impotence.

METHODS

The PSSR, hand sympathetic skin response (HSSR), filling videocystography and SPACE (single potential analysis cavernous electromyography) were performed in 39 patients referred for study of impotence.

RESULTS

A relationship between not obtaining PSSR and an open bladder neck (60%) in the videocystography at filling, and between a closed bladder neck and obtained PSSR (81%) was demonstrated. The percentage of normal hand sympathetic potentials was similar for patients with obtained and not obtained PSSR. The relationship between the degree of activity of the SPACE and the type of PSSR could not be demonstrated.

CONCLUSION

The determination of the PSSR allows us to evaluate the sympathetic cavernous innervation. This would obviate performing a filling videocystography in the study of the neuroandrologic profile in impotence. The information obtained by PSSR is independent of that obtained from SPACE, therefore both procedures complement each other in the neuroandrologic study of impotence.