ASSESSMENT OF BLOOD-FLOW IN DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE PENIS BY DUPLEXSONOGRAPHY IN SUBJECTS WITH NORMAL ERECTILE POTENCY

Correct evaluation of erectile potency requires careful assessment of the hemodynamics of the cavernous area. Pulsed Doppler flow velocity m easurement of cavernous arteries after intracavernous injection of vas oactive drugs represents an effective, repeatable and minimally invasi ve technique. However, doubts remain concerning the procedures employe d and the results obtained. Based on the assumption that all flowing v iscous fluids are subjected to a significant decrease in pressure and, hence, velocity the smaller the vessel diameter is, the pulsed Dopple r flow velocity measurement was used to evaluate such a decrease in th ree consecutive segments of the penis (a,b and c). A statistically sig nificant decrease in velocity (P < 0.0001 on the right and left) was o bserved between the arterial segments a, b and c in cavernous arteries of subjects with normal erectile function. Therefore, we stress that in the vascular evaluation of the penis, one should take into account the values obtained in each penile segment because a reduction in flow velocity in a proximo-distal direction can be regarded as physiologic . Misinterpretation of results can thus be prevented, avoiding a wrong diagnosis of arteriogenic erectile insufficiency.