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Postgrad Med J 2006;82:89-94 doi:10.1136/pgmj.2005.037291
  • Review

Medical and surgical management of priapism

  1. J Cherian1,
  2. A R Rao2,
  3. A Thwaini3,
  4. F Kapasi4,
  5. I S Shergill4,
  6. R Samman4
  1. 1Department of Urology, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, UK
  2. 2Department of Urology, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK
  3. 3Department of Urology, St Bartholomew’s and Royal London Hospitals, London, UK
  4. 4Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 MrI S Shergill
 62 Ward Avenue, Grays, Essex RM17 5RW, UK; super_iqi{at}hotmail.com
  • Received 15 May 2005
  • Accepted 13 June 2005

Abstract

Priapism is a pathological condition of penile erection that persists beyond, or is unrelated to, sexual stimulation. Pathologically and clinically, two subtypes are seen—the high flow (non-ischaemic) variety and the low flow (ischaemic) priapism. The low flow type is more dangerous, as these patients are susceptible to greater complications and the long term recovery of erectile function is dependent on prompt and urgent intervention. Many of the causes of priapism are medical, including pharmacological agents, and as such, priapism should be considered as a medical and surgical emergency.

Footnotes

  • Funding: none.

  • Conflicts of interest: none declared.

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