Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)

For the treatment of enlarged prostate/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

As men age, their prostate gland grows in size. For some, the growing prostate can put pressure on the bladder and urethra, causing urination problems such as more frequent urination (especially at night), difficulty starting or stopping urinating, a weak urine stream and the inability to completely empty the bladder.

This condition, called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, affects half of all men between 51 and 60 years of age, and up to 90% of men over 80. BPH is also linked to erectile dysfunction and a reduced sex drive. If left untreated, BPH can lead to other problems, such as urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage and urinary retention (being unable to urinate).

If the symptoms of BPH are mild, the condition may be treated with medications, supplements or lifestyle changes. Some medications can affect the prostate and BPH symptoms, so your doctor may replace these or have you stop taking them.

If symptoms are moderate to severe and affect your quality of life, there are several available treatment options. A type of surgery known as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is sometimes recommended. However, this surgery has a high complication rate with potential sexual side effects. A less invasive procedure called UroLift(R) is also an option. While this procedure can alleviate urination symptoms, it does not address the underlying cause–the growing prostate gland. It also has not been shown to improve sexual function.

A minimally invasive procedure called prostate artery embolization (PAE) is performed by the doctors at CU Medicine Interventional Radiology.

It has been shown to be effective at shrinking the prostate gland, alleviating urinary symptoms and even improving sexual function.

During the PAE procedure, the doctor uses imaging to guide a tiny catheter through the blood vessels to the prostate arteries on each side of the gland. Microparticles are injected, which reduce the flow of blood into the gland. This effectively shrinks the prostate, which in turn reduces or eliminates the symptoms of BPH. It requires no general anesthesia, has a high success rate (75-95%) and a very low rate of complications. Because it is an outpatient procedure, you can return home after the treatment and resume normal activities.

Prostate artery embolization is recommended for patients with an enlarged prostate (greater than 50 grams) and who have not been able to control their symptoms with conservative treatment. It is a safe and effective alternative to surgery, and is ideal for those on anticoagulant medications, those with refractory hematuria, chronic kidney disease or those who smoke.

For more information about prostate artery embolization, or to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors, please visit our contact page or call (720) 516-0637.