What causes impotence?

An erection happens when blood is pumped into the penis - and stays there - making it stiff and hard. It is a complex process, involving the blood vessels to and within the penis as well as the nervous system that controls the flow of blood and, on top of it all, the man’s emotional state. Many sorts of influences can therefore stop erections from occurring. .

Venous Leakage

The most common cause of erectile dysfunction is impaired blood flow either into or out of the penis. Hardening of the arteries, for example, reduces blood flow into the penis at the time of stimulation. Venous leak, which results in blood not being trapped in the penis, also can contribute to difficulty maintaining an erection. Factors that can impede blood flow include:

 

 

Venous Ligation Surgery

In general, the long-term benefits of venous ligation surgery have been limited, with short-term success rates cited between 30-50%. Venous leak is believed to be a manifestation of structural changes in the erectile tissue and the concept that ligation of venous channels external to the corporal body itself can remedy venous leak in a long-term fashion has little scientific basis. Venous ligation surgery is currently recognized as a purely investigational form of surgery. However, preliminary evidence supports the use of such surgery in young men with traumatic or congenital leakage from the most posterior portions of the erectile bodies, the crura. ligation of the crura is used to combat crural venous leak. No long-term data are available in a large cohort of patients and at this time this procedure is considered investigational. Prior to being considered for this procedure, young men need to undergo routine evaluation and the vascular study, DICC. If venous leak is identified to be present solely in the crura of the penis, then the patient is counseled about this form of surgery.