Priapism Treatment Cost in India | Shunt Surgery

Q: Is priapism an emergency?

Priapism is defined as a prolonged penile erection that fails to subside despite orgasm. It is a medical emergency which should be diagnosed and treated early to preserve erectile function and avoid corporal fibrosis resulting from anoxia of the corporal tissue.

Q: How long does it take to recover from priapism?

In cases of priapism of more than 3 days duration, the chance of complete recovery of erectile capacity is small. Some authors have suggested that in patients with prolonged low-flow priapism a penile prosthesis should be implanted immediately.

Q: How long can the average man stay erect?

An erection can last from a few minutes to about half an hour. On average, men have five erections a night while they're sleeping, each lasting about 25 to 35 minutes.

Q: What happens if you are erect for too long?

The blood trapped in the penis is deprived of oxygen. When an erection lasts for too long, this oxygen-poor blood can begin to damage or destroy tissues in the penis. As a result, untreated priapism can cause erectile dysfunction.

Priapism Treatment Package

Medical Visa
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Coordinating care at accredited hospitals, including

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Surgery Name	Cost	Room	Hospitalization
Priapism Treatment Package	$1236	Single	Patient - 2 days stay in a single room.

✓ Inclusion

✔Consultation with senior urologist / andrologist
✔Penile colour Doppler ultrasound
✔Routine blood tests including blood count
✔Corporal aspiration, irrigation and phenylephrine injection, or distal shunt surgery as advised
✔Surgeon and anaesthetist fees
✔Operation theatre / procedure room charges and consumables
✔2 days stay in a single room
✔Routine medicines, pain relief and dressings
✔Heart and blood pressure monitoring during treatment
✔Written prevention and emergency plan for recurrent priapism
✔Meals for the patient as per hospital diet
✔Free: airport pick-up & drop, visa invitation letter, interpreter & coordinator (Satyug Healthcare)

✗ Exclusion

✖International flights and visa fees
✖Hotel stay before admission and after discharge
✖Selective arterial embolisation (interventional radiology)
✖Proximal shunt or repeat surgery
✖Penile prosthesis (implant) surgery
✖Haematology treatment, transfusion or exchange transfusion for sickle cell disease
✖MRI, angiography and tests not in the package
✖Extra hospital days
✖Medicines taken home
✖Attendant meals and personal expenses

Know More About Procedure & Surgery

🇮🇳 UROLOGY PACKAGE — INDIA

Priapism Treatment in India

Planned treatment for recurrent (stuttering) priapism, high-flow priapism and shunt surgery, done by experienced urologists and andrologists at accredited Indian hospitals – with full privacy and at a fraction of Western prices.

✅ Free Medical Opinion in 48–72 h🔒 Confidential andrology care💰 Starting USD 1,236✈️ Visa & Airport Support🗣️ Interpreter Available

⏱️

30–90 min

Procedure time

🏥

2 days

Hospital stay

📈

70–90%

Shunt success

📅

5–7 days

Total stay in India

📖 What is Priapism?

Priapism is an erection of the penis that lasts more than 4 hours and is not caused by sexual desire, or continues long after it. It is usually painful. The most common type, ischaemic (low-flow) priapism, happens when blood is trapped in the penis and cannot drain out. The trapped blood loses oxygen, and after 24–48 hours the erectile tissue begins to scar, which can cause permanent erectile dysfunction. It is common in men with sickle cell disease and can also follow injections for erectile problems, some medicines or drugs.

Important: an erection lasting more than 4 hours is a medical emergency and must be treated in the nearest hospital straight away – do not wait to travel. This package is for planned care: shunt surgery when first-line treatment has failed, treatment of recurrent (stuttering) priapism, high-flow (non-ischaemic) priapism after an injury, and evaluation of erectile problems after a past episode.

🖼️ Understand It in Pictures

💡 In simple words

Priapism is an erection that lasts more than 4 hours and is not linked to sexual desire. The common type is an emergency: trapped blood can damage the penis. Treatment drains the blood and uses medicine; sometimes surgery is needed.

Normal blood flow vs priapism, and after treatment

Priapism Treatment: normal vs abnormal explained in pictures

👀 Symptoms in Pictures

Symptoms that may need Priapism Treatment - in pictures

🎬 The Treatment Journey in Pictures

Priapism Treatment step by step in pictures

📅 Recovery at a Glance

Recovery timeline after Priapism Treatment

🩺 Conditions Treated

🩸

Ischaemic (low-flow) priapism

Trapped, oxygen-poor blood; treated by aspiration, medicine injection and, if needed, shunt surgery.

🔁

Stuttering (recurrent) priapism

Repeated painful erections of a few hours, often at night – common in sickle cell disease.

⚡

High-flow (non-ischaemic) priapism

Usually painless; caused by an artery injury after trauma; may need artery embolisation.

🧬

Sickle cell-related priapism

Prevention plan with haematology and urology together.

💊

Drug or injection-related priapism

After penile injections, some antidepressants, blood pressure or illegal drugs.

🛠️

Erectile dysfunction after priapism

Scarring after a long episode; may need a penile implant (separate package).

⚠️ Symptoms That Need Medical Attention

➤Erection lasting more than 4 hours
➤Painful, rigid shaft with a soft tip (glans)
➤Repeated painful night-time erections
➤Erection after an injury to the groin or perineum

➤Partial painless erection lasting for days
➤Erections that do not go away after ejaculation
➤Dark or bluish colour of the penis
➤Weak erections after a past priapism episode

💡 Not every case needs surgery. Most acute ischaemic priapism settles with blood aspiration and phenylephrine injection in the emergency room. High-flow priapism often goes away on its own with observation. Stuttering priapism is often controlled with medicines and, in sickle cell disease, with haematology care.

🔬 Tests Before Treatment

Test	Why it is done
Blood gas test from the penis	Shows if the blood is low in oxygen (ischaemic) or normal (high-flow).
Colour Doppler ultrasound of the penis	Checks blood flow and finds any injured artery or fistula.
Complete blood count and sickle cell test	Looks for sickle cell disease, leukaemia or other blood disorders.
Drug and medicine history / urine toxicology	Finds medicines or drugs that may cause priapism.
MRI of the penis (selected cases)	Shows scarring (fibrosis) or damage of erectile tissue.
Pudendal angiography	Used for high-flow priapism to locate and block the leaking artery.

🏥 The Procedure — Step by Step

Consultation and history

The andrologist takes a detailed history and examines the penis.

Diagnostic tests

Doppler ultrasound and blood tests confirm the type of priapism.

Anaesthesia

Local penile block, spinal or short general anaesthesia as needed.

Aspiration and irrigation

Trapped blood is drained with a needle and the penis is washed with saline.

Medicine injection

Phenylephrine is injected in small doses with heart monitoring.

Shunt surgery (if needed)

A channel (distal or proximal shunt) is created to let blood drain from the penis.

Embolisation (high-flow cases)

A radiologist blocks the leaking artery through a thin catheter from the groin.

Observation

Erection, pain and blood flow are monitored in hospital.

Prevention plan and discharge

Medicines and a plan to prevent repeat episodes; discharge on day 2.

⚖️ Treatment Options

Treatment	What is done	Best for
Aspiration + phenylephrine injection	Blood drained and medicine injected into the penis	First-line for ischaemic priapism
Distal shunt (Winter, Ebbehoj, T-shunt, Al-Ghorab)	Channel made between penile shaft tissue and the glans	Ischaemic priapism not settling with injections
Proximal shunt (Quackels, Grayhack)	Channel to a nearby penile tissue or vein near the base	When distal shunts fail
Selective arterial embolisation	Leaking artery blocked with gel or coils via a catheter	High-flow priapism after injury
Medicines for prevention	Tablets such as PDE5 inhibitors (daily low dose) or pseudoephedrine, and sickle cell care	Stuttering priapism

📊 AUA/SMSNA (2021) and EAU guidelines advise that ischaemic priapism be treated within 4–6 hours; after more than 36–48 hours of ischaemia, most men develop permanent erectile dysfunction.

📅 Your Day-by-Day Plan in India

Day	What happens
Day 1	Arrival in India, airport pick-up and hotel check-in
Day 2	Andrology consultation, Doppler ultrasound and blood tests
Day 3	Admission and procedure (shunt / embolisation / planned treatment)
Day 4	Observation and discharge after 2 days in a single room
Day 5–6	Hotel rest, wound check and prevention plan review
Day 7	Fly home ✈️

🌱 Recovery After Treatment

🛏️

Day 1–2

Mild pain and swelling; ice packs and pain tablets; monitored in hospital.

🩹

Week 1

Keep the area clean; light walking; avoid heavy lifting.

🚫

Week 2–4

No sexual activity until the doctor allows, usually after 4–6 weeks.

💊

Week 1–4

Take prevention medicines as advised; follow sickle cell plan if relevant.

❤️

Month 1–3

Erections are assessed; mild weakness may improve with tablets.

🛠️

Month 3–6

If erections do not return, a penile implant can be planned.

🏆 Success Rate

Outcome	Result
Aspiration + phenylephrine success (early)	About 65–80%
Distal shunt success	About 65–75%
Embolisation success (high-flow)	About 75–90%
Erectile function kept if treated within 12 h	Most men
Erectile dysfunction if ischaemia over 36 h	About 90%

The most important factor is how quickly ischaemic priapism is treated. High-flow priapism and early-treated cases have a good chance of normal erections. Controlling the cause, such as sickle cell disease or certain medicines, prevents repeat episodes.

🩹 Risks & Possible Complications

Procedures for priapism are generally safe, but outcomes depend on the duration of the episode.

•Erectile dysfunction – mainly related to how long the priapism lasted
•Bruising, swelling and pain of the penis
•Repeat priapism – common in sickle cell disease
•Infection – uncommon, about 1–3%
•High blood pressure or fast heartbeat from phenylephrine – heart is monitored
•Penile shortening or curvature from scarring
•Rare: urethral injury or skin damage after shunts

💰 Cost of Priapism Treatment in India

The cost of planned priapism treatment in India starts from about USD 1,236. This package includes andrology consultation, Doppler ultrasound, the procedure (aspiration, injection or distal shunt), 2 days in a single room and routine medicines. Arterial embolisation and penile implant surgery are charged separately.

Option / Hospital tier	Approx. cost (USD)	Hospital stay	Notes
Priapism treatment – this package	1,236	2 days	Single room; aspiration / distal shunt
Proximal shunt surgery	1,500 – 2,200	2–3 days	When distal shunt fails
Selective arterial embolisation	2,500 – 3,500	1–2 days	High-flow priapism, done by interventional radiologist
Penile prosthesis (implant) after priapism	4,500 – 9,000	2–3 days	Malleable or inflatable implant

⚠️ Final cost depends on the type of priapism, procedure needed, anaesthesia and any extra days in hospital. Quotes are confirmed after the specialist examines the patient in India.

Priapism Treatment cost comparison India USA UK Turkey

📋 What the Package Includes

✅ Included

✔Andrology / urology consultation
✔Penile Doppler ultrasound
✔Aspiration, injection or distal shunt procedure
✔Anaesthesia fees
✔2 days in a single room
✔Routine medicines and dressings
✔Meals for patient
✔Airport pick-up, visa letter and interpreter

❌ Not Included

✖Flights and visa fees
✖Hotel stay outside hospital
✖Arterial embolisation
✖Penile prosthesis surgery
✖Haematology treatment for sickle cell
✖Extra hospital days
✖MRI and special tests
✖Medicines taken home

✈️ Your Medical Travel Process with Satyug Healthcare

Medical travel journey to India for Priapism Treatment

Step	Details
1. Send reports	Details of each priapism episode (date, how long it lasted, treatment given), any penile Doppler or MRI, blood count and sickle cell (Hb electrophoresis) report, and a list of current medicines.
2. Free opinion & quotes	Within 48-72 hours you receive opinions and cost estimates from 3-5 leading hospitals to compare.
3. Choose hospital & doctor	We help you compare doctors, success rates, room options and total budget.
4. Medical visa	The hospital issues a Visa Invitation Letter (VIL) to the Indian Embassy. The patient and up to 2 attendants apply for an e-Medical / Medical Attendant visa.
5. Travel planning	Flight guidance, wheelchair assistance, airport pick-up, hotel or guest house near the hospital.
6. Treatment in India	Your coordinator and interpreter stay with you for admission, treatment, discharge and billing.
7. Return & follow-up	Fit-to-fly letter, medicines, and online follow-up with your doctor after you return home.

🎒 Travel Checklist

📌Valid passport (6+ months) for the patient and attendants, plus 10 passport-size photos each
📌Medical visa / e-visa and the hospital’s Visa Invitation Letter
📌All Doppler, MRI, blood reports, emergency treatment notes and prescriptions
📌Yellow fever vaccination certificate (mandatory for travellers from African countries)
📌Polio vaccination certificate where applicable
📌Declare cash above USD 5,000 at the airport; hospitals accept wire transfer and cards
📌Foreigners staying longer than permitted must register with the FRRO — our team assists

⭐ Why Choose Satyug Healthcare?

🏥

Top Accredited Hospitals

Our partner urology and andrology centres include Medanta – The Medicity, Max Super Speciality Hospital Saket, Fortis Memorial Research Institute Gurugram, Indraprastha Apollo, BLK-Max, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Manipal Hospitals.

👨‍⚕️

Senior Specialists

Treatment is given by senior urologists and andrologists experienced in penile surgery, with interventional radiologists for embolisation.

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Transparent Pricing

Multiple written quotes to compare — no hidden charges, no extra fee for our service.

🤝

End-to-End Support

Visa, airport pick-up, accommodation, interpreter and 24/7 coordinator.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

➤ I have an erection lasting more than 4 hours. Should I travel to India?

No. Ischaemic priapism is an emergency and must be treated within hours at the nearest hospital. Travel to India for planned care such as recurrent priapism, shunt surgery or erectile problems after priapism.

➤ How much does priapism treatment cost in India?

Planned treatment starts from about USD 1,236, including the procedure and 2 days in a single room. Embolisation or a penile implant costs more.

➤ How long will I stay in hospital?

The package includes 2 days in hospital. Most men go to the hotel the next day.

➤ How long should I stay in India?

Plan for about 5–7 days for tests, the procedure and a check-up before flying.

➤ Is the treatment painful?

The penis is numbed with a local block or you receive spinal or general anaesthesia. After the procedure, mild pain is controlled with tablets.

➤ Will I have normal erections afterwards?

It depends on how long the priapism lasted. Men treated early usually keep normal erections. After very long episodes, erectile dysfunction is common and may need a penile implant.

➤ Can recurrent priapism be prevented?

Yes, often. Medicines, treating sickle cell disease and avoiding trigger drugs reduce repeat episodes. The doctor gives you a written emergency plan.

➤ What is a shunt?

A shunt is a small surgical channel that lets trapped blood drain from the penis. It is used when injections do not work.

➤ When can I have sex again?

Usually after 4–6 weeks, once the doctor confirms healing.

➤ What are the risks?

Bruising, infection, repeat priapism and erectile dysfunction. Phenylephrine can raise blood pressure, so the heart is monitored.

➤ Is my treatment confidential?

Yes. All consultations and records are private, and our coordinators handle your case discreetly.

➤ Can a family member come with me?

Yes, an attendant can travel with you. We provide visa invitation letters for the patient and attendant.

➤ What follow-up is needed after I go home?

A video consultation at 2–4 weeks and an erection assessment at 3 months. Men with sickle cell disease also need regular haematology follow-up.

➤ What if I do not speak English?

Satyug Healthcare provides interpreters for Arabic, French, Russian, Swahili and other languages at no extra cost.

💬 Get a Free Opinion & Cost Estimate

Send your medical reports today and receive opinions from India’s top specialists within 48-72 hours.

📞 +91-8860606766 | +91-9910655125 | ✉️ query@satyughealthcare.com

Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information and does not replace a consultation with a qualified specialist. Treatment plans and costs are confirmed only after the patient is examined. Sources: NCBI StatPearls: Priapism; AUA/SMSNA Guideline on Acute Ischemic Priapism (2021/2022); EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health – Priapism; Mayo Clinic: Priapism; NHS: Priapism. Infographics: Satyug Healthcare.