Patterns of Cavernosal Arterial Flow in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction, as Evaluated by Color Doppler Flowmetry

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a growing common health problem that affects men of different age groups. Despite it is thought to be a para-aging disease, it affects young and middle aged men as well. Color duplex Doppler is a non-invasive tool of evaluation of the vascular mechanism of erection in patients suspected to have an organic cause of ED. Objective: To demonstrate the color duplex Doppler measurements of cavernosal arterial hemodynamic parameters in non-diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction. Patients and Methods: 100 consecutive non-diabetic men with erectile dysfunction were evaluated clinically and with color duplex Doppler ultrasonography after intracavernosal injection of papaverine to induce erection. Peak systolic and end diastolic velocities as well as the resistive index were measured in the right and left cavernosal arteries. Results: Patients were classified into 4 groups according to the peak systolic and end diastolic velocities, that help to categorize patients as regard treatment options into patients recommended for medical treatment (having good venoocclusive mechanism) and others recommended for surgical management (patients with veno-occlusive malfunction). Conclusion: We conclude that peak systolic & end diastolic velocities of the cavernosal arteries as measured on duplex sonography gives an accurate evaluation of the vascular status in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction, that help in choosing of management options.