[Long-term results of corpus cavernosum auto-injection therapy in treatment of patients with chronic erectile dysfunction].

From May 1985 to July 1989, 143 patients suffering from chronic erectile dysfunction (21-70 years old) underwent constant corpus cavernosum auto-injection therapy (CCAT) with papaverine alone (1257 injections) or with a standardized papaverine-phentolamine mixture (11035 injections). On the basis of these 12,292 protocol auto-injections and over 4 years' experience with intracavernosal auto-injection therapy we conclude: CCAT, especially with the papaverine-phentolamine mixture, constitutes an effective therapy (full rigidity in 95.9%) with tolerable side-effects for chronic erectile dysfunction when preceded by careful patient selection and thorough multidisciplinary evaluation, especially in the case of arterial and/or neurogenic aetiology of the erectile dysfunction; in addition, the contraindications must be strictly observed, the treatment and technique fully explained, and a regular system instituted. CCAT is generally well accepted by the patients and their partners (100%/98.3%) and has distinct positive effects on self-esteem (77.8%), performance anxiety (84.4%) and partnership (79.5%). The most serious side-effect was prolonged erection (25 out of 12,292 injections). In 3 patients reversible fibrotic changes near the tunica albuginea were observed.