SINGLE POTENTIAL ANALYSIS OF CAVERNOUS ELECTRICAL-ACTIVITY - 4 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN MORE THAN 500 PATIENTS WITH ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Since the recent introduction of cavernous electromyography by Gersten berg and Wagner, a new too for the study of erectile dysfunction in ma n is available. The refinement of this method, single potential analys is of cavernous electrical activity (SPACE), offers a straightforward approach to the diagnosis of cavernous autonomic neuropathy and smooth muscle myopathy by minimal invasive means. SPACE was done in more tha n 500 consecutive patients with erectile dysfunction and in 85 normal control subjects. With increasing experience the methodology was refin ed with respect to the used hardware as well as cut-off frequencies. I n normal control subjects, SPACE showed a reproducible regular activit y with potentials of low frequency and electrical silence inbetween. T he potentials were synchronous throughout the cavernous bodies. In pat ients with peripheral autonomic denervation, asynchronous potentials w ith higher frequencies and irregular shape were found. Normal and abno rmal potentials were found in patients with upper spinal cord lesions. Recordings obtained with surface electrodes showed similar characteri stics when compared with recordings obtained with needle electrodes. R ecent studies show that SPACE provides independent information about t he autonomic and myogenic intactness of the cavernous tissue. Currentl y, a computerized expert system and a graded classification for easier interpretation is being developed with first results. We conclude tha t cavernous electrical activity can be recorded. SPACE is a reproducib le diagnostic tool for erectile dysfunction.