Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of High Flow Priapism

We present a case of high flow priapism whereby point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) identified the presence of pulsatile cavernosal arterial flow to confirm the diagnosis. This is the first case report in the emergency medicine literature to highlight the utility of POCUS in the diagnosis and management of high flow priapism. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Low flow priapism accounts for 95% of cases and is a urologic emergency requiring immediate invasive intervention. High flow priapism is much less common and does not require emergent management. While blood gas analysis can differentiate between high and low flow priapism, POCUS is a rapid, noninvasive, accurate diagnostic means to identify the presence or absence of cavernosal pulsatile arterial flow.