VELOCITY AND FLOW-VOLUME GRADIENTS ALONG THE CAVERNOSAL ARTERY - A DUPLEX AND COLOR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY STUDY

Duplex and color Doppler sonography were used to assess 130 impotent patients and 8 potent controls. Cavernosal artery diameter, peak flow velocity and volume flow rate were evaluated at the level of the crura of the corpora cavernosa and 1 cm proximal to the corona penis. Potent controls and nonarteriogenic impotent patients showed a 20% reduction in hemodynamic parameters at the periphery of the cavernosal arterial tree. In patients with occlusive disease, involving either the upper arterial tree or the entire course of the cavernosal artery, the gradient was maintained. In patients with selective occlusive disease of the distal segment of the cavernosal artery the hemodynamic gradient almost doubled. Hemodynamic gradients can be identified along the cavernosal artery and provide additional information to arteriographic data for the selection of candidates for penile vascular reconstructive surgery.