A 69-year-old Covid-19 patient suffered a prolonged erection that lasted more than 3 hours due to a rare complication caused by the coronavirus.
According to a case report that was published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine earlier this year, the unidentified patient from the US state of Ohio was diagnosed with the condition, known as priapism, while in hospital for coronavirus in August last year.
The case report says the man went to the emergency department at Miami Valley Hospital, after the respiratory symptoms he had been experiencing for a week, like cough and congestion, worsened. Doctors tested him for COVID-19, and the test came back positive.
While in the hospital, the man’s respiratory status continued to decline, and he was intubated and placed on a mechanical ventilator for 10 days. When his lungs began to fail, he was then put in a prone position so that he was lying on his stomach for 12 hours, to help get air around his body.
The next day, when adjusting the Covid-19 patient’s positioning, a nurse noticed that the man had an erection. The care team put ice packs on the area to reduce the swelling, but the erection still wouldn’t go down, lasting more than three hours.
His doctors determined that the prolonged erection was due to ischemic priapism and resorted to draining blood from his penis using a needle. With the help of medication injected into the base of his penis, his erection subsided after 30 minutes of treatment.
The treatment was successful and the priapism did not happen again. Unfortunately, the patient died from other COVID-19 complications when his lungs failed to recover.
The condition is extremely rare in Covid-19 cases, and this patient is only the second known to have had priapism after being diagnosed with Covid-19. The other was a 62-year-old man in June 2020. According to the Mayo Clinic, ischemic priapism (also called low-flow priapism) happens when blood isn’t able to leave the penis. In this case, the man’s priapism was believed to be due to an obstruction of draining venules, which are very small blood vessels. People with ischemic priapism usually have an erection that lasts more than four hours or that is unrelated to sexual interest or stimulation.
The condition is known to be excruciating and can cause lasting damage if left untreated.
Another symptom of ischemic priapism is progressive pain in the penis. Usually, clinicians can ask patients about their pain level to determine whether they have ischemic priapism or another type of priapism, known as nonischemic or high-flow priapism. This occurs when blood flow in the penis isn’t regulated appropriately, according to the Mayo Clinic. It usually hurts less than ischemic priapism.
If left untreated, priapism can damage the reproductive organs and cause erectile dysfunction. The Mayo Clinic notes,
“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.”
Email marketing automation allows businesses to reach customers efficiently. Tools help manage campaigns and improve engagement.
rnrnKeywords such as “email marketing tools” have strong CPC. Content should compare platforms and strategies.
rnrnSEO-friendly guides can attract business users. This niche benefits from SaaS competition.
rnMedicare Supplement plans, Medigap plans, Medicare Supplement insurance, Medigap coverage, Medicare Plan G, Medicare Plan N, Medicare supplement cost
rnrnMedicare Supplement Insurance, also called Medigap, helps pay certain out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare.
rnrnFor many people, Medigap is appealing because it can make health care costs more predictable.
rnrnMedicare says Medigap is extra insurance sold by private companies to help pay your share of costs in Original Medicare, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
rnrnGenerally, you need Original Medicare Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap policy.
rnrnMedigap works with Original Medicare. It is not the same as Medicare Advantage.
rnrnThis matters because you generally cannot use Medigap to pay Medicare Advantage plan costs.
rnrnMedigap policies may help with costs such as:
rnrnPart A coinsurance
rnPart B coinsurance or copayments
rnBlood costs
rnSkilled nursing facility coinsurance
rnPart A deductible
rnForeign travel emergency coverage, depending on plan
rnOut-of-pocket gaps in Original Medicare
Coverage depends on the specific plan letter.
rnrnMedicare provides a comparison chart showing what different Medigap plan letters cover.
rnrnMedigap plans are standardized by letter in most states.
rnrnCommon plan letters include:
rnrnPlan A
rnPlan B
rnPlan D
rnPlan G
rnPlan K
rnPlan L
rnPlan M
rnPlan N
The benefits for a plan letter are standardized, but prices can differ by insurance company.
rnrnFor example, Plan G benefits are generally the same standard benefits regardless of company, but premium pricing and service may vary.
rnrnThis is a major decision.
rnrnYou keep Original Medicare and add Medigap to help with out-of-pocket costs. You may also buy a separate Part D plan for prescriptions.
rnrnMedicare Advantage plans are private plans that provide Part A and Part B benefits as an alternative to Original Medicare.
rnrnThe choice affects doctor access, network rules, drug coverage, monthly premiums, and out-of-pocket costs.
rnrnMedicare says your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts 6 months and starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and are 65 or older. During this period, you have important rights when buying Medigap.
rnrnIf you apply later, medical underwriting may apply in many situations, depending on your state and circumstances.
rnrnPotential advantages include:
rnrnPredictable out-of-pocket costs
rnWorks with Original Medicare
rnNo Medicare Advantage network rules
rnHelpful for frequent travelers
rnStandardized benefits
rnCan reduce surprise medical bills
Potential disadvantages include:
rnrnMonthly premium
rnUsually requires separate Part D drug plan
rnDoes not usually include dental, vision, or hearing extras
rnPricing can increase over time
rnMay be harder to buy later depending on rules
Compare:
rnrnPlan letter benefits
rnMonthly premium
rnRate increase history
rnCompany reputation
rnHousehold discounts
rnEnrollment timing
rnCustomer service
rnAvailability in your state
rnWhether you need Part D separately
Do not choose only by brand name. Since benefits are standardized by plan letter, price and service matter.
rnrnMedigap may be a strong fit for people who:
rnrnWant provider flexibility
rnTravel often
rnPrefer Original Medicare
rnWant predictable costs
rnSee specialists frequently
rnDo not want network restrictions
rnCan afford a monthly premium
Medicare Supplement plans can help reduce the financial gaps in Original Medicare.
rnrnIf you want flexibility, predictable cost-sharing, and fewer network concerns, Medigap may be worth comparing. But timing matters, and premiums vary.
rnrnBefore buying, compare plan letters, prices, Part D needs, and long-term affordability.
rn
