Medical Memoranda
"Vacuum Cleaner Injury" of the Penis
Many forms of penile injury have been described after
attempts to induce erotic stimulation. Strangulation by
rubber bands, metal rings, and string are the commonest,
producing oedema and sometimes even retention of urine
and gangrene. Three patients with similar penile
injuries produced by a vacuum cleaner are here
described.
CASE HISTORIES
Case 1.-A widower aged 57 attended hospital on October
17, 1957, because of penile lacerations. He had been greatly
incapacitated for a number of years with chronic bronchitis
and emphysema. Returning from having a few drinks in a
public-house and seeking erotic satisfaction, he introduced
his penis into the end of a vacuum cleaner tube and switched
on the machine. However, pain soon caused him to stop,
and then he found his penis was congested and bleeding. On
examination the glans penis was extensively lacerated, the
lacerations appearing almost " explosive " in nature. The
urethra was not involved. The lacerations were sutured with
catgut, and a soft rubber catheter was introduced for several
days. Recovery was uneventful.
Case 2.-A 28-year-old bachelor attended hospital on
September 11, 1957, with similar extensive lacerations of the
glans penis extending into the external urethral meatus. The
prepuce was also lacerated. He had produced the injuries
in exactly the same manner as the previous patient. Circum
cision was performed, the lacerations of the glans were
sutured with catgut, and a self-retaining urethral catheter
was introduced. Healing was satisfactory without any sign
of stricture.
Case 3.-A widower aged 75 attended hospital on
August 7, 1959, in great mental distress and complaining of
pain, swelling, and laceration of the penis. He stated that
while cleaning the stairs his penis had accidentally slipped
into the end of a Hoover " dustette" vacuum cleaner.
However he then attempted to obtain erotic stimulation by
switching the motor on and off. On examination two
irregular circumferential lacerations were present in the
prepuce, each about 1.5 cm. long, and there was a similar
laceration on the dorsum of the glans penis. The glans and
prepuce were oedematous. Micturition was normal. The
lacerations were not extensive enough to warrant suture or
circumcision, and healed satisfactorily in two weeks.
COMMENT
The method of masturbation used by these patients
was rather ingenious but had disastrous results. They
attempted to simulate an active sexual partner by
introducing the penis into the tube of a vacuum cleaner
and switching on (and in one case on and off) the
suction power of the machine.
No similar case has been found in the literature.
We thank Mr. H. K. Vernon, Mr. G. 0. Jelly, and Mr.
J. H. Tasker for permission to publish these case notes.
MILEs Fox, M.B., F.R.C.S.,
Senior Registrar, St. Peter's Hospital, London, W.C.2.
E. L. BARRETr, M.B., Ch.B.,
Registrar, Ancoats Hospital, Manchester.