Colour flow and spectral doppler imaging after papaverine-induced penile erection in 220 impotent men: Study of temporal patterns and the importance of repeated sampling, velocity asymmetry and vascular anomalies

Abstract

Of 220 impotent men studied, 52 demonstrated venous leakage, 85 had arterial insufficiency and 65 showed normal vascular response. Persistent diastolic velocity > 7 cm/s diagnosed venous leakage with a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 69%, using cavernosography as the reference standard. Using clinical response as the reference standard maximal systolic velocity of 30 cm/s identified normal penile arterial response with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 82%. There was a good correlation between penile arterial insufficiency and a strong history of arteriopathy. Time to peak systole > 0.1 s was a reliable predictor of arteriogenic impotence and Pulsatility Index (PI) < 300 was discovered only in patients with either venous leakage or arteriogenic impotence. Peak systolic velocity (Tmax) occurred between 5.2 and 6.5 min after injection, and diastolic velocity was minimal at 9 min with only the normal responders showing reversed diastolic flow. However, 22% had a delayed response (Tmax range 1-18 min). Velocity asymmetry was equally common in the three groups and unilateral sampling would have misdiagnosed 6% of patients studied. Vascular anomalies were seen in 13%, particularly a single feeding artery, dorsal vein flow or collateral arterial flow.