For patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate artery embolization (PAE) offers a minimally invasive alternative to surgery. The procedure uses a safe, proven prostate artery embolization technique to relieve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with enlarged prostates.
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What is PAE? | Who Qualifies for PAE | PAE Benefits | FAQs about PAE
PAE is generally an outpatient procedure performed under mild sedation and local anesthetic to minimize discomfort. During prostate artery embolization, a specialized physician called an interventional radiologist inserts a catheter through a blood vessel to reach the prostate gland. Using the catheter, the physician deposits a number of small, nontoxic beads into the vessels that feed the prostate.
By blocking these vessels, PAE effectively prevents the prostate’s excess tissue from getting oxygen, causing it to shrink. As this happens, pressure on the urethra and bladder is relieved, helping alleviate uncomfortable urinary and pelvic symptoms.
Before your PAE treatment, you’ll receive specific instructions from the staff at our NJ interventional radiology clinic. These may include medications and supplements to pause and when you’ll need to stop eating and drinking.
The procedure itself usually takes 1-4 hours, including a short recovery period monitored by clinic staff. Most patients are able to go home on the same day as their procedure.
After your PAE treatment, you may have some temporary side effects such as urinary frequency, difficulty urinating, blood in the urine or stool, diarrhea, or pelvic pain. These side effects are usually temporary and resolve on their own. The interventional radiology clinic will follow up with you to answer any questions and provide additional care as needed.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is among the most common diagnoses in older men. Among men over age 60, over 30% suffer from BPH symptoms that require treatment.1 PAE is just one of several treatment options for BPH, ranging from first-line interventions like medications to complete prostate removal surgery (prostatectomy). The PAE procedure might be right for you if you:
Yes, PAE is a safe alternative to surgery with a low complication risk.
PAE treatments are performed by interventional radiologists with specialized training in image-guided, minimally invasive procedures.
Depending on the size of the prostate, how many blood vessels it has and where they’re located, the PAE procedure may take between 1-4 hours.
Most men return to daily activities within 5-7 days after their PAE procedure, compared to a 4-6 week recovery period for TURP surgery patients.
Temporary side effects may include urinary issues, pelvic pain, and blood in the urine. There is a risk of long-term urinary and/or sexual issues associated with PAE, and some patients may require reintervention.
PAE is highly successful in relieving lower urinary tract symptoms in men with BPH, and has a lower risk than other BPH treatments for incontinence, retrograde ejaculation, and ejaculation dysfunction.
PAE is considered a standard treatment option for BPH and is covered by many insurers, including Medicare. If you have questions about your insurance plan’s coverage, our radiology clinic staff in NJ can help.