Prostate Artery Embolization: Our Newest Treatment for BPH

Most people know today that you cannot “starve a fever” away, as folklore suggests. But thanks to advances in medical care, you can starve an enlarged prostate into better health. 

This is the science behind an advanced, incision-free treatment for enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The minimally invasive approach, called prostate artery embolization (PAE), eases BPH symptoms, not by surgically cutting the enlarged tissue away, but by reducing the tissue’s blood supply, so it shrinks.

For the millions of men who experience the disruptive side effects of BPH, such as urinating too frequently, trouble starting and stopping urination, or leakage, PAE is a less-invasive alternative to surgery. 

Is PAE Right for You? 

When a patient’s BPH symptoms do not respond to medications, the next step has traditionally been to remove the excess tissue surgically or by pulling the enlarged tissue away from the urethra using small inserted implants – a procedure called UroLift. 

PAE can be an alternate option for patients who do not want to or cannot undergo surgery. 

The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting at our new Interventional Radiology (IR) Center, located ½ mile from our Norwood headquarters. While you are under light sedation, the doctor places a small, narrow catheter into a blood vessel, typically in your inner thigh. 

Using X-rays, the IR doctor guides the microcatheter to your prostate.

Once the catheter reaches your prostate, dye is injected into the arteries to identify which of them feed blood to the gland. The physician then inserts microscopic spheres into those arteries, blocking blood flow to the prostate. Lacking its blood supply, the excess prostate tissue shrinks. This is what’s known as embolization.

After the treatment, which takes one to two hours, you might experience temporary soreness in the pelvic area. Typically, patients can expect urinary-related symptoms to subside within three weeks. 

The Long-Term Success Rates and Risk Factors of PAE

Studies show that PAE can be an effective and long-lasting treatment. 

• According to one report in the National Library of Medicine, more than 76% of the men had improved symptoms for up to 6.5 years. 
• Patient studies also indicate fewer risks and side effects with PAE than with surgical approaches. For example, PAE patients are less likely than post-surgery patients to experience ejaculation problems, such as diminished volume, Endovascular Today reports. 
• Studies also find PAE carries lower risk of urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction, compared with some surgeries.
• And importantly for some patients, PAE is typically less expensive than even other minimally invasive procedures and is covered by most insurance plans.

How to Know if You Qualify for Prostate Artery Embolization

At The Urology Group, PAE may be an option for patients who either cannot or do not want to undergo surgery. But it is a step-by-step process. 

Your urologist will first assess the severity of your BPH by performing diagnostic urinary or blood tests, bladder function tests, and possibly more advanced tests using a scope and camera. 

If your BPH is considered moderate to severe but does not respond to medications, you might be a good candidate for PAE. Don’t wait until your BPH worsens. If left untreated, an enlarged prostate can lead to severe bladder complications down the road. 

Click here to read more about PAE specifically and access a handy information sheet.