Priapism: etiology, treatment, and results in series of 35 presentations.

Of 35 cases of priapism a successful outcome with detumescence of the erection and preservation of potency was achieved in only 6 instances. Patients with sickle cell disease enjoyed a more optimistic outcome, and early presentation appeared to be the key factor. The different therapeutic approaches did not have great impact on the outcome, and we advise an initial conservative approach progressing to glans-cavernosa fistula creation and subsequently to cavernosum-spongiosum shunting for patients failing to respond.