Priapism
Priapism Causes
It is believed that this foundation is caused by vascular factor and neurological factors. This condition may be related with disorders like haematological disorders particularly sickle-cell disease and other conditions like thalassemia, leukaemia and Fabry's disease. Neurological disorders such as lesions and trauma in the spinal cord are also seen to cause this condition. It can also be caused by medication the most common are intra-cavernous injections that are used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Priapism Definition
Priapism is considered to be a medical condition that is harmful due to the fact that an erect penis does not return to its normal size or form in a span of at least four hours. This condition is often painful though this condition is not accompanied by any sexual arousal. The condition is considered to be an emergency condition because it needs immediate medical attention.
Priapism Diagnosis
It best recommended that the patient consult a urologist in this case. Complete Blood Count (CBC) Sedimentation Rate Urinalysis Urine culture Colony Count Sickle-cell preparation Coagulation profile Chemistry Panel Serum protein electrophoresis In cases that there are neurological sign the following are done MRI of the brain or proper level of the spinal cord.
Priapism Symptoms and Signs
Prolonged erection Painful erection
Priapism Treatment
The patient should seek medical advice immediately. The therapy used for this condition is to aspirate blood from the corpus cavernosum with local anaesthetic. In cases the therapy did not work intra-cavernosal injections of phenylephrine are used which is performed by a trained urologist. Phenylephrine can cause hypertension, bradycardia, arrhythmia and tachycardia so a constant hemodyanmic monitoring is needed. If the therapy and intra-cavernosal injections are still not sufficient surgical shunts are done in this case. After distal shunts, which are the first step, it is followed by more proximal shunts.