PERCUTANEOUS PENILE VENOABLATION FOR TREATMENT OF IMPOTENCE

Percutaneous penile venoablation with sclerosing agents and coils was performed in 58 patients. Of 104 ablations attempted, 44 of 51 (86%) t ranspenile, and 46 of 53 (86.7%) retrograde interventions were technic ally successful. In 40 patients (69%) erectile function improved (inte rcourse was possible in 21 without additional measures). Initially imp roved erectile function deteriorated in 24 patients during follow-up ( in an average of 6 months); in 15 of these, intercourse was still poss ible with injection of vasoactive drugs. In 7 patients, repeat venoabl ation improved erectile function again. Hot contrast medium was slight ly superior to sodium morrhuate as a sclerosing agent. In successfully treated patients, the average decrease in venous leakage was 30 ml/mi n vs 13 ml/min in treatment failures, with considerable overlap betwee n both groups. Only minor complications were observed. We conclude tha t percutaneous penile venoablation is technically feasible, and safe. Whether the procedure will have a definite role in the treatment of ve nogenic impotence, however, still has to be determined.