PROPOFOL AND PRIAPISM. HOW MUCH RISK IS THERE – CURRENT LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Priapism is one of the most common conditions requiring urgent medical intervention. There are several types of priapism, including pharmacologically induced priapism. The authors focused on reviewing articles related to propofol-induced priapism and presented all cases described so far. Propofol is a fast-acting, short-acting drug used by physicians in many specialties for both children and adults. The mechanism of action is poorly understood. Recognizing the type of priapism will allow medics to determine the cause and implement appropriate treatment as soon as possible. It includes several regimens, depending on the type of priapism. Prolonged complication can cause very serious and sometimes irreversible consequences, such as penile shortening. Although priapism is not recognized as one of the side effects of propofol, this review is relevant to the entire medical community, including emergency physicians and those working in hospital emergency departments and emergency rooms because of the high frequency of propofol use for most medical procedures.