Prostate enlargement, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a common condition in older men that causes symptoms such as poor urinary flow, frequent urination during the day and night, incomplete bladder emptying, and sudden urge to urinate. This disease may be treated with oral medications, but not all patients have relief of their symptoms with medications alone. In patients with severe symptoms, a urologist may recommend a surgical procedure, Such as trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is a minimally invasive alternative to surgical procedures like TURP. PAE shrinks the prostate by treating its blood vessels. Through a small incision in the upper thigh, access to the prostate's blood vessels is gained, and small particles are injected to slow the blood flow to the gland. In the weeks and months following PAE, the prostate relaxes and shrinks, resulting in symptom relief for most men. Although conventional prostate surgery can be associated with complications like impotence and incontinence, PAE is a minimally invasive alternative that is not known to cause these issues.
