What is Prostate Artery Embolization?
Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is a treatment option for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate gland. This minimally invasive procedure can greatly reduce BPH symptoms, without the side effects of traditional prostate surgery.
What are the most common symptoms of an enlarged prostate?
- Frequent urination at night
- Frequent urination that often produces only a small amount of urine
- Hesitant or interrupted urine stream
- Leaking or dribbling urine
- Sudden and urgent need to urinate
- Weak urine stream
- Feeling like the bladder is not completely empty after urinating
- Occasional pain when urinating
- Having to rush to the bathroom suddenly after the urge to urinate
- Sometimes complete obstruction when severe
- There is pain
- There are fertility issues
- If a young boy’s left testicle is growing smaller than the right
Treatment at Association of Alexandria Radiologists (AAR)
In this outpatient procedure, interventional radiologists insert a spaghetti sized catheter into a leg artery (femoral artery) in the groin area and guide this catheter to the prostate arteries. A material may be injected in the artery, if deemed appropriate, to block the blood vessels going to the hypervascular nodules that form in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). These nodular growths are also called prostatic adenomas. By blocking the blood vessels to t
he nodular growths, the prostate may shrink and thereby reduce the blockage of urine and pressure on the bladder. Catheters or probes are not routinely placed through the penis for this procedure. To determine whether you are candidate for this procedure as part of routine medical practice, your doctor will discuss how severe your symptoms are, what other health problems you have, and the size and shape of your prostate. The embolic material that is injected in to the arteries (embolic material) is not FDA approved for the specific indication of treatment of an enlarged prostate/BPH and its use is considered off label by the FDA.
Most often, patients are discharged from the hospital 3 hours after the procedure, bu
t sometimes it may be necessary to stay overnight.
Schedule a Consultation for Prostate Artery Embolization
For more information on prostate treatment or to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online. please call one of our partner hospitals listed below:
Inova Alexandria Hospital – 703-504-7950
Inova Mount Vernon Hospital – 703-664-7462
Sentara No Va Medical Center – 703-523-1980
