Yosef Golowa, MD, FSIR Interventional Radiology · Minimally Invasive Specialist
(212) 991-9991 Book a Consultation

Home  /  Patient resources  /  Article

A Swiss study on venous leak embolization: safety and early results

A study of 50 men with severe ED from venous leak reported a 98% technical success rate, no major adverse events, and significant improvement in erectile function at six weeks.

Fluoroscopy image showing the penile veins after embolization

By Yosef Golowa, MD, FSIR · Published June 9, 2026 · 2 min read

A study from Switzerland has added useful evidence for men with severe erectile dysfunction that does not respond to medication. The procedure it examined, venous leak embolization, targets a condition called venous leak, and the results were encouraging on both safety and effectiveness.

What venous leak is

Venous leak occurs when blood flows out of the penis too quickly, making an erection difficult to maintain. It is frequently resistant to the common ED medications such as Viagra and Cialis, which work by increasing blood flow in rather than stopping it flowing out. The condition is explained in more detail in this article.

The study

Researchers followed 50 men with an average age of 61.8 years, all with severe ED caused by venous leak. The procedure involves closing the problematic veins through a needle puncture into one of them.

Key findings

  • Safety. The procedure was technically successful in 98% of patients, with no major adverse events reported.
  • Efficacy. 68% of patients showed significant improvement in erectile function at six weeks.
  • Patient satisfaction. 82% reported feeling better after the intervention, and 78% said they would undergo the procedure again.

Improvement in erectile function

Outcomes were measured with the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire:

  • The ability to achieve penetration improved from 1.7 to 3.2 points.
  • The ability to maintain an erection improved from 1.3 to 2.8 points.
  • The overall IIEF score rose from 31.1 to 50.0 points.

These improvements were statistically significant and clinically meaningful for the men involved.

What it means

The findings are early rather than definitive, but they matter, because the alternative for many of these men is a surgical implant. The study suggests that embolization can be a safe and effective option for men with severe ED who do not respond to medication, and that it is worth considering before committing to something irreversible.

Citation

Diehm N, Pelz S, Kalka C, Keo HH, Mohan V, Schumacher MC, Do DD, Hoppe H. Venous leak embolization in patients with venogenic erectile dysfunction via deep dorsal penile vein access: safety and early efficacy. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2023 May;46(5):610-616. PMID: 36949182.

To learn more about venous leak embolization, or to find out whether you are a candidate, call our office at (212) 991-9991 or book an appointment with Dr. Golowa.

More patient resources