Intracavernous Papaverine in the Management of Psychogenic Impotence

Abstract

Intracavernous papaverine has found an important place in the management of male erectile failure. The effect of this mode of therapy was studied in 48 patients with psychogenic impotence. The average follow-up for this group of patients ranged from 7 months to 37 months (mean 16.3 months). All the patients in this group were advised sex therapy as an initial mode of therapy. On refusal to undergo sex therapy, they were offered an option of intracavernous papaverine injection. Papaverine appears to break the performance anxiety erectile failure cycle and was noted to have good results. Overall 57.9% patients expressed complete satisfaction with this mode of therapy. One patient (2.1%) developed priapism, which was adequately treated with intracavernous epinephrine. Use of low dosage of papaverine is suggested as an additional mode of therapy in the management of psychogenic impotence.