Intracavernous injection therapy in recovery of spontaneous erection (not for self-injection)--its mechanism and indications.

Ten impotents underwent intracavernous injection therapy for recovery of spontaneous erection using papeverine hydrochloride alone or in combination with phentolamine. Six out of ten patients recovered spontaneous erection. Almost all respondents tended to have low initial penile-brachial-index values and their penile-brachial-index values rose after treatment. We concluded that periodic erections after using a vasoactive drug may have the effect of stimulating and activating the lethargic blood flow system and finally revitalizing the erectile organ.