A team of international, multidisciplinary researchers this week revealed in a study that prostatic artery embolization (PAE) may be safe and effective treatment for high risk patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who did not respond to non-surgical treatment.
The study, “Prostatic Artery Embolization: A Promising Technique in the Treatment of High-Risk Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia,” was published in the latest online edition of the journal Urologia Internationalis.
About Prostatic Artery Embolization
PAE is performed to help improve urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate, or BPH.
According to the research literature, PAE provides several advantages over traditional surgical therapies:
- It is minimally invasive.
- It can be done under local anesthesia and in the outpatient setting.
- Success is achieved in 75-94 percent of patients.
- Prolonged Foley catheterization is not needed after this procedure.
- BPH treatments are usually discontinued in the weeks after the procedure.
About this Study
For the study, the researchers aimed to assess the safety and efficacy (ability to produce the desired clinical outcome) of PAE in BPH patients who are at high risk for surgery and anesthesia.
Enrolled in the study were 22 BPH patients, between June 2013 and February 2015, who had lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH-related medical therapy, such as incomplete bladder emptying, frequency, intermittency, urgency, weak stream, straining, nocturia (waking up at night to urinate), or who has an urethral catheter placed in the bladder to release urine. All of the patients enrolled were at high risk for surgery and anesthesia.
For each enrolled patient, a PAE was performed. Preliminary, one, three and nine month post-intervention assessments that included a complete physical examination, serum prostate-specific antigens (PSA), uroflowmetry, and abdominal and transrectal ultrasonography were also completed.
The PAE procedure was successfully performed in all of the enrolled patients with no major side effects reported. The researchers primary study finding showed a significant improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms and urinary flow rate. Another significant finding was the reduction in prostate volume and serum PSA.
This study enrolled a small sample size of patients; future confirmatory studies will need to be conducted before standard treatment protocols can be changed.
For a short introductory video about PAE, click here.