Man with two day erection has part of his penis amputated after developing gangrene
The unnamed man, from India, first went to hospital because he couldn't get rid of a 'painful and sustained' erection
A MAN who had an erection for two days had to have the tip of his penis amputated after developing gangrene.
The unnamed man, from India, first went to hospital because he couldn't get rid of a "painful and sustained" erection.
Doctors drained the blood but managed to leave a catheter in, which quickly caused the head of his penis to turn black.
When the 52-year-old returned to hospital there was so much dead tissue that surgeons were left with no choice but to amputate.
Three weeks after the life-changing surgery, the man was able to urinate normally and had a "healthy wound".
The extraordinary case, from King George's Medical University in Lucknow, was published in a medical journal, according to an article by .
Willy painful
He first went to the doctor suffering from priapism - the medical term for a persistent and painful erection of the penis - for 48 hours.
Priapism is considered a medical emergency if it lasts for more than two hours.
It's not clear what triggered this man's painful condition, but according to the NHS it can be caused by sickle cell disease, illegal and legal drugs or by taking erection remedies such as Viagra.
What to do if you have priapism?
Priapism is a long-lasting painful erection. It can cause permanent damage to your penis if not treated quickly.
Do:
- try to go for a pee
- have a warm bath or shower
- drink lots of water
- go for a gentle walk
- try exercises, such as squats or running on the spot
- take painkillers like paracetemol if you need to
Don't:
- do not apply ice packs or cold water to your penis – this can make things worse
- do not have sex or masturbate – it won't make your erection go away
- do not drink alcohol
- do not smoke
Source:
Initially, surgeons treated his priapism by putting a shunt into his penis - a device intended to divert the flow there.
They also put in a urinary catheter and wrapped it in a compressive dressing.
But the following day, the head of his penis - which had become flaccid - started to turn black.
Dr Saqib Mehdi, who treated the patient, wrote in the case report: "We removed his urethral catheter.
"But still the black colour of glans penis deepened over the next day and a clear line of demarcation became visible between it and the penile shaft."
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Dr Mehdi suggested the catheter and tight dressing put on after the initial procedure could have triggered the gangrene, the irreversible death of skin and flesh.
As the gangrene couldn't be treated, the only option was to amputate the head of the penis.
Medics say he was discharged 48 hours after surgery and was making a good recovery.
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