Diagnosing erectile dysfunction: instruments for the study of smooth muscle relaxation

Complete cavernosal smooth muscle relaxation is the pre-requisite for the reliability of every evaluation of the integrity of the corporal veno-occlusive system. Such evaluation is needed whenever reaching a diagnostic conclusion on the haemodynamic status of a given patient is clinically relevant. Clinical challenges that a laboratory evaluation of veno-occlusive integrity face comprise both the induction of complete smooth muscle relaxation, and the possibility to monitor it. This article will review the relevant aspects of normal range values of veno-occlusive function, existing strategies aimed to promote complete smooth muscle relaxation, and available techniques to monitor the cavernosal smooth muscle status.