Microsurgical arteriovenous revascularization in the treatment of vasculogenic impotence.

Abstract

We studied 35 patients with vasculogenic impotence who underwent an operation since 1986 and who were followed postoperatively for a minimum of 1.5 years. In all patients a microsurgical anastomosis was performed between the inferior epigastric artery and the arteriovenous shunt of the dorsal penile vessels. Potency was restored or improved in 77% of the patients during the long-term observation. Doppler or duplex sonography confirmed the same percentage of patent anastomoses. Through microsurgical modifications of the Hauri procedure and the interposition of free venous grafts, it was possible to operate further in 3 patients with short epigastric arteries and to treat intraoperative complications effectively in 1.