Results of surgery for veno-occlusive disease

Surgery directed at veno-occlusive dysfunction in impotency has evolved since 1981, following the recognition that vascular disorders are the major source of etiology of impotency. As the diagnostic tests for concomitant arterial disease have become more sophisticated, the results for pure veno-occlusive surgery have improved. Details of postoperative results in 60 of the author's patients are discussed along with other published results. The failure rate is 30–50%. Success includes those patients who can then obtain an erection with pharmacological agents who were unable to do so prior to surgery. A discussion of why the surgery fails is presented.