Case Report: Successful treatment of refractory high-flow priapism in a patient with sickle cell disease by selective trans-catheter embolization using an autologous blood clot: A case report

Abstract

Priapism is an abnormal prolonged and persistent penile erection lasting more than 4 h, unrelated to sexual desire, stimulation or activity. The three types of priapism are low-flow, high-flow and stuttering. Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have increased risk of low-flow and stuttering priapism, but high-flow priapism is relatively uncommon in SCD. We report a case of non-traumatic refractory high-flow priapism evolving from a stuttering low-flow priapism in a patient with SCD. The patient was successfully treated by super-selective transcatheter embolization of the penile arteries with an autologous blood clot. It is proposed that the super-selective transcatheter embolization of unilateral or bilateral penile arteries with autologous blood clot is a relatively safe and effective non-surgical treatment option for high-flow priapism, even in patients with SCD, and has a low probability of developing erectile dysfunction.