Intracavernosal metaraminol bitartrate for treatment of priapism resulting from circumcision: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Priapism is an uncommon disorder of involuntary prolonged erection beyond sexual excitement or desire. Herein, we present a rare case of priapism resulting from traditional circumcision under regional anesthesia with dorsal penile nerve block by xylocaine, which was successfully treated by intracavernosal injection of metaraminol bitartrate. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 37-year-old man visited our out-patient department for a penile erection, which had been observed during the surgery, lasting for 21 days. 10 days after circumcision, he accepted simple corporeal aspiration in another hospital but it had no effect. In our hospital, he was injected intracavernosally twice a day, with 2 mg metaraminol bitartrate diluted in 1 ml normal saline every time. Complete resolution of penile tumescence was achieved after injection for 7 days, no complications were observed. DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION: Priapism developed following circumcision is very uncommon. This particular case was diagnosed as high-flow non-ischemic priapism, and is the first reported event of priapism resulting from circumcision which was finally successfully treated with the efficient and minimally invasive method of intracavernosal injection of metaraminol bitartrate. CONCLUSIONS: Intracavernous injection of metaramino bitartrate might be a simple, effective and safe method for relief of priapism associated with circumcision. Yet, more clinical studies are needed to validate the effectiveness of intracavernosal metaramino bitartrate for post-circumcision priapism.