PROSTATE ARTERY EMBOLIZATION

Relief from Frequent Urination

An FDA-Approved Alternative To Surgery With No Risk Of Incontinence Or Impotence

Definition

What is Prostatic Artery Embolization?

Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is a minimally invasive treatment for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Using a tiny catheter, microscopic particles are injected into the arteries supplying the prostate. The particles reduce the blood flow into the prostate, causing it to shrink.

BPH is a non-cancerous growth of the prostate gland and is very common in men. In fact, by age 50, 50% of men will develop BPH, and the chance you will develop BPH continues to increase as you age. Beginning in your 40s, the prostate starts to grow, pinching the urethra and making it harder to urinate.

VIE is proud to have been the first clinic in the state of Minnesota to perform a prostatic artery embolization.

Risk Factors

The main risk factor for developing BPH is age. Other factors include:

Family History
Diabetes and Heart Disease
Obesity

Symptoms

The severity of symptoms in people who have BPH can vary, but symptoms tend to worsen gradually over time. Common signs and symptoms of BPH include:

Frequent or urgent need to urinate
Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia)
Difficulty starting urination
Weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts
Dribbling at the end of urination
Inability to completely empty the bladder

Less common signs and symptoms include:

Urinary tract infection
Inability to urinate
Blood in the urine

The size of your prostate doesn’t necessarily determine the severity of your symptoms. Some men with only slightly enlarged prostates can have significant symptoms, while other men with very enlarged prostates can have only minor urinary symptoms.

Treatment and Benefits

There are a wide variety of treatment options for BPH, including medication and minimally invasive procedures. Drugs such as alpha-blockers relax muscles in your prostate to make urination easier and prevent hormonal changes that cause prostate growth. There are various minimally invasive procedures, such as:

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
Laser therapy
Prostatic urethral lift (PUL)
Embolization (performed at VIE)

How is prostate artery embolization performed?

A small incision is made in the wrist or groin, through which a microscopic catheter is guided to the arteries supplying the prostate. Tiny beads are then injected into the arteries, reducing the blood flow into the prostate causing the entire prostate gland to shrink.

Prostate artery embolization offers the lowest complication rate of any procedure for BPH. It also eliminates the typical risks of other BPH procedures, such as impotence, sexual dysfunction, incontinence, and urine leakage. It does not require the placement of a bladder catheter.

What to Expect

After your procedure, you’ll spend about an hour in a comfortable recovery room before heading home. Expect minimal discomfort, relieved with over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, with no limitations on your activities, allowing you to resume your daily routine as soon as you feel ready. Most patients notice an immediate improvement, with continued improvement for one to three months. Our team will be here to support you, ensuring a smooth recovery.