Deep dorsal vein (DDV) arterialization has developed as a treatment option for patients with arteriogenic impotence, especially in situations where artery-to-artery bypass is not feasible. The inferior epigastric artery (IEA), harvested through a lower abdominal incision, has usually served as the neoarterial source. Using dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography (DICC) to evaluate arterial and venous erection factors and pudendal arteriography to define arterial anatomy, we have identified 16 patients with cavernosal artery (CA) obstruction and a normal dorsal artery (DA) to serve as the neoarterial source. All patients were less than 50 years old (mean 34.8 +/- 8.6 years). During DICC, the gradient between systemic and CA systolic occlusion pressures averaged 38.7 mmHg. Two patients showed moderate and two minimal corporal veno-occlusive dysfunction (CVOD). From 1991-94, all 16 underwent microscopic DA-DDV arterialization. Four of these patients also underwent venous ligation procedures and three had IEA bypass to the other DA. With adequate follow-up in 15 men, the results for six are considered excellent or normal (40%); eight improved (53.3%) and one was unchanged. In the improved group are three men who did not respond adequately to maximum penile injection therapy before surgery but used small doses afterward with success. Of the three smokers in the series, two were improved and one unchanged. Excellent results were found in four of five men (80%) under age 30 but only one of five (20%) over age 40. Complications included two instances of penile shortening and one of glans hyperemia requiring reoperation. By avoiding an abdominal approach, operative times, morbidity and recovery were substantially shortened. This operative approach can provide an excellent treatment for nonsmokers with CA obstruction and a normal DA.