Blood gas measurement on cavernosal blood can help determine the type of priapism that a patient has.
|
Parameter
|
normal (flaccid penis cavernosal blood)
|
ischemic priapism (low flow)
|
nonischemic priapism (high flow)
|
|
appearance
|
red
|
dark
|
bright red
|
|
PO2 in mm Hg
|
40
|
< 30 (hypoxic)
|
> 90
|
|
PCO2 in mm Hg
|
50
|
> 60 (hypercarbic)
|
< 40
|
|
pH
|
7.35
|
< 7.25 (acidotic)
|
7.40
|
|
resembles
|
mixed venous blood
|
|
arterial blood
|
Color duplex ultrasonography can be used as an alternative to cavernosal blood sampling.
