Development of a mathematical model for the prediction of the area of venous leak

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an increasingly prevalent medical problem, aff ecting up to 50% of men aged between 40 and 70-y-old. Many cases are vascul ogenic and some of these stem from the inability of the penis to store bloo d during erection due to leak into the venous system, termed corporo-venocc lusive dysfunction (CVOD). The area of leakage during erection could be the most direct measure of erectile function but has not been investigated bef ore. We have developed a simple mathematical model to determine the area of leak during erection and have tested it on data from both normal men (n = 3) and men with venogenic impotence (n = 16) undergoing dynamic infusion ca vernosometry (DIC). The area of leak in the impotent group is significantly greater than in normal men at intracorporal pressures above 30 mmHg and re aches a plateau between 60 and go mmHg. Based on this study, we suggest tha t it may be necessary only to perform DIC at intracorporal pressures betwee n 60 and 90 mmHg.