Questions in The Urology Forum are being answered by doctors from Henry Ford Health System , consistently ranked one of the best hospitals in America. Dear KD Thanks for your question.
Ischemic priapism is much more common than high flow traumatic priapism.
Priapism without an apparent cause is called idiopathic. Therapy of the priapism is aimed at treating the underlying cause. The sickle cell patient has abnormal shaped blood cells which can not fit through the capillaries leaving the penis. This patient is hydrated with intravenous fluids, given supplemental oxygen and sometimes given a basic solution intravenously to decrease the sickling of the blood cells. Blood transfusions can also be given.