Photo Credit: Aleksei Naumov
The following is a summary of “Natural (non-invasive) Erection Test: Is it a reliable alternative to the artificial erection test?,” published in the December 2023 issue of Urology by Hadidi, et al.
January 2020–October 2021 saw 50 youngsters undergo intraoperative natural and artificial erection testing. Five glandular, 26 distal, 9 proximal, and 10 perineal hypospadias curvature patients were evaluated. The mean follow-up was 20 months (16–37). The curvature was assessed before and after degloving using natural and artificial erection tests under anesthesia. After curvature correction, each individual took the NET three times. Paired t-tests assessed measurements. Two fingers on the left-hand press just below the symphysis pubis to restrict penile blood outflow, while two on the right massage perineal blood distally into the penis until it hardens without a tourniquet.
The standard artificial erection test used a butterfly needle without a tourniquet to inject saline into the bodies. Both tests were shot at Angle Meter App-determined angles and curvature. Both erection tests were similar (P = 0.705). The Bland–Atman plot showed that all children vary in natural and artificial erection tests within agreements. The artificial saline-injected erection test described by Gittes is more common than Perovic’s pharmacological test. Chordee severity during artificial erection tests relies on injection pressure. It’s hard to apply the tourniquet near enough to identify the penis base chordee.
It may cause hemorrhage, edema, postoperative pain, and several punctures to assess curvature before and after rectification. Drug-induced hypospadias erections cost, lose blood, and need a reversal. Natural erection tests resemble normal erections and may prevent these issues. The natural erection test is straightforward, non-invasive, non-traumatic, and may be repeated intraoperatively without puncturing the corpora cavernosa, avoiding the risks of the artificial test.
Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S147751312300325X