How can we Diagnose Priapism?
Priapism is diagnosed with the help of detailed medical history and physical examination.
Priapism can be diagnosed with the help of detailed medical history and physical examination.
The doctor should ascertain the duration of normal erections and if there has been associated trauma.
It is also important to check the rectum and the abdomen for evidence of unusual cancers and to rule out the other causes of priapism.
It is important to obtain a blood-gas measurement of the blood from the penis. This provides a clue as to how long the condition has been present and how much damage has occurred. A small needle is placed in the penis; some of the blood is aspirated and then sent to a lab for determination of blood gases. This will also help categorize whether the cause of the priapism is low-flow or high-flow.
