Surgical Management of Priapism in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia

Priapism has been reported to occur in 2 to 5 per cent of patients with sickle cell disease. Recently, creation of a percutaneous fistula between the glans penis and the corpora cavernosa has been applied widely in the management of patients with priapism, except in those cases of sickle cell anemia. Reported failures of such shunting procedures in the sickle cell patient has perhaps unduly denied surgical benefits to that population. We have managed successfully 5 such children with sickle cell anemia and priapism without complications by creation of a fistula between the glans penis and the corpora cavernosa. Our treatment plan is presented, which includes early shunting should initial nonoperative treatment fail.