[Role of arteriography and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the diagnosis and treatment of arterial vasculogenic impotence].

High quality arteriographic studies of the iliopudendal vascular tree are mandatory for the correct examination of arteriogenic impotence patients before revascularization procedures. Twenty-three patients with chronic erectile dysfunctions due to stenosis or occlusive arteries diseases of the iliac arteries were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in our Department. A positive clinical result was obtained in 15 of 23 cases (65.2%). The maneuver was successful in 8 of 14 patients with vascular lesions of the common and/or external iliac artery (57%). The erectile dysfunction was resolved in 4 of 6 patients with stenosis of the external iliac artery associated with a stenosis of the hypogastric artery (66.6%). The erectile dysfunction was also resolved in 3 patients with a single vascular lesion in the hypogastric artery. No major post-angioplasty complications were observed. PTA is a repeatable and not very invasive method with a low complication rate and could represent a valuable alternative to surgical revascularization in the patients with associated impotence and claudication of leg and hip. Moreover, it makes the treatment of choice in the patients with erectile dysfunctions due to isolated lesions of the hypogastric arteries.