Mf. Arjona et al., Percutaneous embolization for erectile dysfunction due to venous leakage: Prognostic factors for a good therapeutic result, EUR UROL, 39(1), 2001, pp. 15-19
Objectives: To identify prognostic parameters for patient outcome after emb
olization for erectile dysfunction (ED) due to venous leakage (VL).
Methods: 23 patients presenting with ED due to pure venous leakage were sel
ected. Intracavernous pharmacological testing, Doppler ultrasound, dynamic
cavernosography-cavernosometry and cavernous oxygen tension were done. All
patients underwent embolization of the leakage areas visualized. The result
s were assessed in terms of the response: good, partial or absent. Mean val
ues were calculated for diastolic flow, oxygen tension, maintenance flow an
d pressure decay, and were compared between the group of patients who respo
nded and the group which did not respond using Student's t test.
Results: 26% had a good response, with a mean follow-up of 22 months, if we
include partial response and adjuvant therapy this rate rises to 44%. A st
atistically significant relationship was found between the intracavernous o
xygen tension and maintenance flow with a good response to treatment; patie
nts with cavernosography types I and II showed a better response to treatme
nt than those with cavernosography type III.
Conclusions: Maintenance flow, intracavernous oxygen tension, and cavernoso
graphy types can be prognostic factors of success in the treatment of ED du
e to pure VL with embolization. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.