SUMMARY
Priapism is a persistent penile erection that is unrelated to sexual stimulation. The condition may be divided into ischemic and non-ischemic subtypes. Ischemic priapism, the most common variant of the disorder, is typically accompanied with pain and the potential for penile end-organ damage. An erection duration of 4 hours or more is oftentimes quoted as diagnostic of priapism.
The initial management of non-ischemic priapism should be conservative. Prompt attention is indicated in cases of ischemic priapism; the initial management of choice is corporal aspiration with injection of sympathomimetic agents. If medical management fails, a cavernosal shunt procedure is indicated. At our institution, we favor the T-shunt with or without tunneling for the management of refractory ischemic priapism. Stuttering (recurrent) ischemic priapism challenges the clinician to develop a management strategy to prevent future episodes of priapism. Daily treatment with low dose Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors is a promising but investigational means of preventing stuttering priapism. This review will focus on new directions and our own experience in the treatment of priapism.