A 36-year-old Spanish man was left with an erection that lasted for 30 hours after he was given the wrong treatment by doctors.
The man had gone for help when his penis failed to return to its normal size, but rather than get relief things got worse for him. He made a second visit to the hospital and was told to wait for a urologist with a “preferential appointment” who would handle his case.
Medics ended up draining the blood from his penis and he returned to hospital a few days later for an operation during which a malleable penile prothesis was fitted.
The government overseeing the Valencia area was ordered to compensate the man and his wife, because he was not properly treated. He was awarded €49,000 and his wife €5,000.
Jorge Sanchez, a urologist who was not involved in the case, told local media: “Four or five hours of priapism can cause damage to the penis tissue and 20 hours later the risk is higher.
“If the erection continues, the only solution is breaking two tubes in the penis called the corpora cavernosa that fill with blood to make it stiff during an erection.
“If they are ruptured the patient will no longer be able to have an erection and will require a prothesis.”
