THE VALUE OF INCREASED END DIASTOLIC VELOCITY DURING PENILE DUPLEX SONOGRAPHY IN RELATION TO PATHOLOGICAL VENOUS LEAKAGE IN ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

In 58 patients 23 to 71 years old (mean age 49.5 years) with suspected vasculogenic erectile dysfunction diagnosed on the basis of repeated negative reactions to intracavernous pharmacological stimulation (rigidity less than 60% when measured with the RigiScan* device) pharmacocavernosometry and duplex Doppler measurements were performed. The end diastolic velocity in the 24 patients without venous leakage ranged from 0 to 21 cm. per second (mean 7.5 +/- 6.3, standard deviation). The end diastolic velocity in the 34 patients with venous leakage ranged from 0 to 26 cm. per second (mean 9.0 +/- 6.7). In 23 of the 58 patients a peak systolic velocity of less than 25 cm. per second was found, which is an indication of arterial disease. Of 35 patients with a normal peak systolic velocity 15 were in the group without and 20 were in the group with leakage. In the group with a normal peak systolic velocity no statistically significant difference was found in end diastolic velocity between patients with and without leakage. We conclude that the end diastolic velocity during color Doppler analysis of patients with negative reactions on intracavernous pharmacological stimulation does not provide a good indication of potential pathological venous leakage.