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Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Li-ESWT) for priapism-induced erectile dysfunction in young patients: the first case series

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 34, pages 277–279 (2022)Cite this article

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Priapism is usually due to a dysfunction of normal erectile physiology involving the mechanisms that regulate initiation/maintenance of penile detumescence [1].

Three types of priapism are described: ischemic (low flow), non-ischemic (high flow), and stuttering (recurrent). Ischemic priapism, often idiopathic, is a persistent erection marked by the rigidity of corpora cavernosa and by little or no cavernous arterial inflow. Non-ischemic priapism, characterized by unregulated cavernous arterial inflow, is often a post-traumatic event. Stuttering priapism, also termed intermittent or recurrent, is a frequent unwanted and painful prolonged erection typically in men affected by sickle-cell anemia (SCD) [2]. Among all these, the more common is the ischemic priapism, accounting for more than 95% of all cases. Its occurrence can be related to several factors as intracavernosal injection of vasoactive medications for erectile dysfunction (ED), phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5-i), alcohol and recreational drug abuse, medications. In the young and adolescent population, the most frequent form of priapism is due to SCD [2]. Treatments of ischemic priapism should start with therapeutic aspiration, with or without irrigation, followed by intracavernosal injection of a sympathomimetic agent.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology and Andrology Surgery, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Andrea Cocci, Gianmartin Cito, Pierangelo Verrienti, Agostino Tuccio, Andrea Minervini & Lorenzo Masieri

  2. Department of Urology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy

    Giulia Fassio, Filippo Migliorini, Alessandro Antonelli & Alessandro Tafuri

  3. Department of Urology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Carmen Scandura & Alessandro Tafuri

  4. Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, “G. D’Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy

    Alessandro Tafuri

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  1. Andrea Cocci
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  2. Giulia Fassio
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  3. Filippo Migliorini
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  4. Gianmartin Cito
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  9. Andrea Minervini
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  10. Lorenzo Masieri
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  11. Alessandro Tafuri
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Correspondence to Gianmartin Cito.

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Cocci, A., Fassio, G., Migliorini, F. et al. Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Li-ESWT) for priapism-induced erectile dysfunction in young patients: the first case series. Int J Impot Res 34, 277–279 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-021-00429-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-021-00429-4

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