Prostatic artery embolization

Last revised by Yahya Baba on 6 Jul 2023

Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is a minimally invasive procedure utilized to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

PAE has been used for controlling prostatic hemorrhage (such as that associated prostate cancer) since 1970. However, its use in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to benign prostatic hypertrophy in humans was first published in 2010 by Carnevale et al. 3 following several articles on PAE based on animal studies.  

The prostate receives its blood supply from the prostatic arteries, which arise as single or paired vessels on each side of the pelvis. PAE is usually performed via a single common femoral artery puncture. Super-selective embolization of the prostatic arteries results in ischemic necrosis of the gland followed by its shrinkage and subsequent reduction in the symptoms of LUTS

For radial artery access

  • short 5-6F sheath catheter

  • 20 G angiocath or a micropuncture needle (19- 21G)

  • "radial cocktail"

For internal iliac artery catheterization

For prosttic artery subselection

For embolization

Three embolization agents can be used 5

Recognized complications include 6:

Symptomatic relief starts to occur within days in most cases of lower urinary tract symptoms 5, 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 satisfied with their urinary symptoms following the treatment 5.

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