PROSTATE ARTERY EMBOLIZATION

EXCELLENT OUTCOMES. MINIMALLY INVASIVE.

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For more information regarding Prostate Artery Embolization or to schedule a consultation, please contact our team at Vascular and Interventional Physicians of Brevard using this quick contact form or by calling us at (321)-346-4118.

PROSTATE ARTERY EMBOLIZATION

EXCELLENT OUTCOMES. MINIMALLY INVASIVE.

Schedule an Appointment

For more information regarding Prostate Artery Embolization or to schedule a consultation, please contact our team at Vascular and Interventional Physicians of Brevard using this quick contact form or by calling us at (321)-346-4118.

What is Prostate Artery Embolization?

Prostate artery embolization, commonly abbreviated as PAE, is a clinically proven, nonsurgical treatment for symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In research trials, PAE has been found to be over 90% effective in relieving symptoms related to BPH. Compared to the most common surgical alternatives, PAE offers shorter recovery times and a lower risk of certain surgical complications. Our team of interventional radiologists offers the clinical expertise and procedural experience needed to provide our patients the best outcomes.

© Merit Medical, Used With Permission.

What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is a medical term used to describe benign, non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that occurs as men age. BPH is a very common disorder that affects 50% of men by the age of 60 and 90% of men by the age of 80.

The prostate is a gland that rests below the bladder and when enlarged it can restrict the flow of urine out of the bladder.

The most common symptoms related to BPH are referred to as lower urinary tract symptoms, or LUTS for short. These symptoms can include the following:

  • Frequent need to urinate, including the need to wake up multiple times at night to urinate
  • Inability to completely empty the bladder
  • Difficulty starting urination
  • Weak or slow urinary stream
  • In its most advanced form, BPH can result in a complete inability to urinate, an emergency that requires placement of a urinary catheter to allow the bladder to empty.

What treatments are available for BPH?

The most common initial treatment for BPH consists of lifestyle changes and medications. BPH medications are often effective in improving initial BPH symptoms, though may result in unwanted side effects, particularly sexual side effects. BPH medications also commonly lose their effectiveness over time.

For patients whose symptoms are no longer controlled by medications, or who are unable to tolerate BPH medications, the most common next step in treatment is known as TURP (transuretheral resection of the prostate).

TURP is an invasive surgical procedure in a which a tube is inserted through the urethra and used to physically carve out the prostate tissue surrounding the urethra. Recovery from this procedure usually takes a few weeks and requires placement of a urinary catheter for at least a few days. There is also a high rate of certain complications, particularly sexual complications. Retrograde ejaculation, for example, is known to affect approximately 2 out every 3 patients following TURP.

Newer surgical alternatives, such as Urolift, are not as well-validated as TURP, but may be a suitable alternative in select patients.

Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is a rapidly growing, non-surgical treatment option for BPH. Compared to TURP, PAE has quicker recovery times and lower risks of certain complications.

How is PAE performed?

PAE is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed by an Interventional Radiologist. The physician creates a very small access into the artery in either the patient’s wrist or groin, and the rest of the procedure is performed through this single small access. A long tube, known as a catheter, is guided through the patient’s blood vessels into the arteries supplying the prostate. Small particles are then infused through the catheter into the prostate arteries. These particles plug up many of the small prostate arteries, causing the overall blood supply to the prostate to diminish. Over time, this causes the prostate to shrink. This relieves the obstructive effects of the prostate and allows urine to exit the bladder more freely.

The PAE procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure. Patients are usually able to return home 2 hours following completion of the procedure. Injection of local anesthesia is performed at the arterial access site at the outset of the procedure. The remainder of the procedure is typically painless. As opposed to invasive surgical options, patients do not require general anesthesia during PAE. Moderate sedation is administered during the procedure, consisting of intravenous medications that allow the patient to relax and typically sleep through large portions of the procedure.

The procedure usually lasts around 2 hours.

What happens after the procedure?

Patients are usually able to return home 2 hours following completion of the procedure. During the first week after the procedure, there is commonly some degree of inflammation that occurs within the prostate, which may cause symptoms that mimic a urinary tract infection. We will provide you with prescription medications that help address and diminish these symptoms. These symptoms generally resolve completely within the first week.

Significant relief of lower urinary tract symptoms is typically observed within the first 1-2 weeks, and continued improvement is often seen over a period of 3 months.

We have our patients return to see us in clinic about two weeks after the procedure. If the patient has a urinary catheter in place, we will perform a voiding trial to see if the catheter can be safely removed. A second clinic visit is usually performed 3 months after the procedure.

Am I a good candidate for PAE?

If you have symptoms related to BPH that are not adequately controlled by medications, then you may be a good candidate for PAE.  We perform a full clinical assessment prior to scheduling any PAE procedure to ensure that our patients are good candidates for the procedure.  We also recommend simultaneous consultation with a urologist so that you can be best advised of all of your options.  

For more information regarding PAE or to schedule a clinical consultation please contact our team at Vascular and Interventional Physicians of Brevard by entering your information into the form on this page or by calling us at (321)-346-4118.

Schedule an Appointment

or call us: (321)-346-4118

For more information regarding Prostate Artery Embolizationn or to schedule a consultation, please contact our team at Vascular and Interventional Physicians of Brevard by calling us or using this quick contact form