Superselective Arterial Angiography and Embolization for Post-traumatic Priapism

N Al-Nakshabandi, S Lingawi, L Marchinkow, PL Munk, C Morris, G Legiehn, S Ho

Hong Kong J Radiol 2003;6:107-10

Superselective arterial angiography and embolization for post-traumatic priapism is an established procedure for the control of priapism refractory to conservative measures and medication. For the pre-procedure assessment, cavernosal aspiration of blood is used to measure oxygen. Doppler ultrasound could be performed but is not a prerequisite. The procedure is always performed using local anaesthesia together with intravenous sedation and analgesia. A pigtail catheter is used to perform a pelvic angiogram and a Cobra C1 catheter used to perform a contralateral common iliac and selective internal iliac arteriography. A tracker catheter may be required for cannulation of the internal pudendal artery and gelatin sponge torpedoes are deployed at the site of the arteriovenous fistula. A follow up angiogram is performed to confirm a satisfactory result.