Surgery to repair blood vessels may be done for some men who have erection problems (erectile dysfunction).
Venous ligation
In an erection, blood fills chambers in the penis, causing it to expand and become rigid. The veins that would normally drain blood from the penis are constricted, trapping the blood inside and maintaining the erection. Some men are unable to sustain an erection because the blood drains out too quickly through the veins. If this occurs, the veins that drain the penis may be tied off. This surgery is called venous ligation.
The surgery generally works only when the veins that are not working can be identified. However, the results of tests used to assess blood vessel problems are difficult to interpret, and it is difficult to know which men will benefit from this surgery. Success of this surgery depends on the severity of the problem and the experience of the surgeon.
Penile revascularization
This surgery generally is done in younger men who have injuries that affect blood flow to the penis. During surgery, a portion of a blood vessel from elsewhere in the abdomen is used to bypass the damaged portion of artery that supplies blood to the penis.
Credits
| Author | Ralph Poore |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Associate Editor | Terrina Vail |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology |
| Last Updated | June 13, 2006 |
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