To determine the effectiveness of superselective cavernous artery embolization.

Eight patients with high-flow priapism were included in this study. All were treated by superselective cavernous artery embolization with microcoils and gelatin sponges. The follow-up examinations consisted of color duplex ultrasonography. The International Index of Erectile Function 5-item questionnaire was used to investigate the patients' erectile function before the onset of priapism, at embolization, and 6 months after embolization.

A unilateral cavernous fistula was found in 7 patients and bilateral fistulas in 1. Of the 8 patients, 2 (1 with unilateral and 1 with bilateral fistulas) initially underwent embolization with a gelatin sponge but presented with recurrence of tumescence 1 week after treatment and required a repeat embolization procedure with microcoils. The other 6 patients (75%) were successfully detumescent after embolization with microcoils. The 6 patients (75%) who underwent embolization with microcoils alone had normal erectile function with a mean International Index of Erectile Function score of 22.20 at 6 months after embolization. The 2 patients (25%) who had required repeat embolization had erectile dysfunction, with a mean International Index of Erectile Function score of 13.00.

Superselective cavernous artery embolization with microcoils is a safe and effective treatment of high-flow priapism. The use of microcoils resulted in greater embolization success and preservation of erectile function, especially in the treatment of a unilateral arterial fistula in a young patient.