Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx®) transarterial embolization for post-traumatic high-flow priapism

Abstract : We report a case of high-flow priapism treated successfully with superselective embolization of the cavernous artery. A 16-year-old male developed post-traumatic priapism subsequent to a fall causing blunt perineal trauma. He presented to our hospital four days after trauma. Immediately after the injury, he suffered painless sustained incomplete erection. High-flow priapism was diagnosed on the basis of color doppler ultrasonography findings. Computed tomography scan showed a high-flow arterio-venous fistula with feeders from branches of the right internal iliac artery. Selective arteriography of the right internal pudendal artery demonstrated an arterio-cavernous fistula. The fistula was superselectively embolized with ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx (R)) liquid agent and disappeared completely. Improvement was noted, with significant detumescence on table. This was later confirmed on repeat color Doppler imaging. At follow-up 3 months later, he had normal erectile function. To our knowledge, transarterial embolization of high-flow priapism with Onyx (R) has never been reported and appears to be a safe and effective treatment for managing patients with such a condition.