The pharmacologic erection

Intracavernous pharmacologic agent injection has become a very important step in the evaluation of male erectile dysfunction, either alone or in association with other studies, such as a duplex Doppler evaluation, pharmacocavernosometry/pharmacocavernosography, or pharmacoarteriography. In addition, a large percentage of men with impotence may benefit from intracavernous injection therapy as one of their options for goal-directed treatment. With careful office testing to obtain an optimal minimal dose necessary to produce an erection lasting 30 minutes to 1 hour, and by teaching patients proper injection technique, including variance of injection site, significant side effects and the chance of priapism are minimal. Despite the lag of Food and Drug Administration approval, a wealth of literature, many in peer-reviewed literature, attest to the safety and efficacy of the use of intracavernous agents as both a diagnostic aid and a therapeutic tool.