Prostatic artery embolization
Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is a minimally invasive procedure option utilized to treat the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Indications
PAE has been used for controlling prostatic hemorrhage (such as those associated prostate cancer) since 1970. However, its use in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to benign prostatic hypertrophy in human was first published in 2010 by Carnevale et al. 3 following several articles on PAE based on animal studies.
Procedure
The prostate receives its blood supply from the prostatic arteries, which arise as a single or paired vessels on each side of the pelvis. PAE is usually performed via a single common femoral artery puncture. Super-selecting and embolizing the prostatic arteries result in ischemic necrosis of the gland followed by its shrinkage and subsequent reduction in the symptoms of LUTS.
Equipment
Three embolizing materials have been used in the published articles of PAE for the use in human 5. Trisacryl gelatin microspheres, nonspherical polyvinyl alcohol particles and hydrogel microspheres.
Outcome
Symptomatic relief starts to occur within days in most cases of LUTS5, and side effects are generally mild. The typical urosurgical complication such as bleeding requiring transfusion, bladder incontinence, and erectile dysfunction, have not been reported with PAE. Quality of life scores suggest that patients are quite satisfied with their urinary symptoms following the treatment 5
