Prostate Artery Embolization
While it’s not easy to talk about, over 15 million males in the US experience urinary symptoms because of an enlarged prostate. Prostate Artery Embolizaion (PAE) allows you to experience relief without the risk of sexual side effects.
About Prostate Artery Embolization
Symptoms
Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a disease that affects over 15 million males in the U.S. It is the enlargement of prostate gland cells that leads to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), These symptoms include urinary frequency, urgency (particularly at night), and incontinence which can have a significant impact on quality of life. Incidence increases with age. Approximately 50% of men at 50 years of age and 80% at 80 years of age experience these symptoms.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is usually made clinically with the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is helpful to quantify and monitor BPH symptoms. Other causes of LUTS including prostate cancer, prostatitis/infection, and bladder problems should also be excluded.
Procedure
The PAE procedure is performed using conscious sedation, which involves giving medication through an IV to take away pain and anxiety. The procedure itself is not painful.
A small catheter is inserted into a peripheral artery in the leg and guided under live x-ray into the arteries that supply blood to the prostate gland. Tiny beads are then injected into the prostate arteries to decrease the blood flow to the prostate gland. This causes cell death in the prostate gland and a reduction in prostate volume, leading to improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms.
Recovery
Locations
You can have this procedure at any of our three interventional radiology locations.
After a short recovery, patients go home on the same day. Improvement in urinary symptoms usually begin 4-6 weeks after the procedure, and continue to improve up to 5-6 months post procedure.
Published data on PAE shows that the procedure provides satisfactory improvement in urinary symptoms for 75-80% of men.