A 45-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with a painful erection that has persisted for six hours. The nurse recognizes this condition as ischemic priapism. Which of the following is the most likely and serious complication if this condition is not treated promptly?
The correct answer is permanent erectile dysfunction. Ischemic priapism, an erection lasting longer than four hours, is a compartment syndrome of the penis. The trapped blood becomes deoxygenated, leading to an ischemic state that can cause corporal tissue necrosis and fibrosis if not resolved quickly. This tissue damage results in permanent erectile dysfunction. While acute urinary retention can occur due to urethral compression, it is not the most severe parenchymal complication. Testicular torsion is a separate urological emergency. Penile cellulitis is a possible secondary complication, but not the primary consequence of the ischemia.
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BCEN CEN
Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Gynecology, and Obstetrical
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