Benign enlargement of the prostate is not uncommon or unexpected in men of a certain age. It causes urinary problems with symptoms such as a weak stream, never properly emptying the bladder, always wanting to urinate and getting up a lot during the night.
Treatments include medications that can have side-effects and aren’t always effective, and surgery to reduce the size of the prostate by coring it out, either with a knife or a laser.
An alternative technique that has become more common in recent years is prostate artery embolisation, performed by an interventional radiologist.
What Is Prostate Artery Embolisation
Prostate artery embolisation is a procedure that is performed by an interventional radiologist. It involves directing very small catheters and wires through through an artery in the groin or wrist into the arteries that supply blood to the prostate.
The prostate artery blood supply is then blocked by using very small microscopic beads. Without a blood supply, the prostate shrinks down and softens up, relieving enlarged prostate symptoms.
Effectiveness of the procedure
Studies conducted by a Brisbane interventional radiology team (https://virq.com.au/research/) found that prostate artery embolisation is a very effective way of shrinking down the prostate. It showed a reduction in prostate volume of approximately 30%. These studies are mirrored by numerous overseas studies.
The procedure targets the central part of the prostate. The aim is to reduce the amount of tissue, the crowding, the obstruction around the urethra and the pressure on the bladder, taking away the blood supply and shrinking the prostate.
Most men can expect somewhere in the vicinity of 3 to 5 years’ worth of relief, and it’s a minimally invasive and low risk procedure, which can be repeated if necessary.
Although this results in a decrease in symptoms and improved quality of life, a limitation is that new blood vessels grow back, and the prostate will continue to grow.
Risks
Many patients ask if there is a risk of using an incorrect blood vessel, however, the technology used, combined with the expertise of the interventional radiologist, makes this a very safe procedure. It’s also minimally invasive and doesn’t have the side effects of surgical treatments.
One of the great advantages is it’s a minimally invasive day surgery, and it doesn’t have side-effects that are associated with the surgical treatment, which means no retrograde ejaculation, no impotence, no incontinence. The beads end up in the prostate and nowhere else and they do what they are designed to do.
Side Effects
After the procedure, patients can expect a period of symptoms, usually lasting for 5 to 7 days, some burning when they go to the toilet, some increased frequency, a temporary increase in the frequency before everything settles down and inflammation resolves itself.
About A/ProfNick Brown
A/Prof Nick Brown, specialises in Interventional Radiology, with particular interests in interventional oncology, thoracic interventions, sports medicine, uroradiology and health economics. A/Prof Nick Brown was interviewed by Dr Norman Swan on Radio National’s The Health Report about prostate artery embolisation.
Listen to A/Prof Brown’s interview with Dr Norman Swan.
Learn more about the Prostate Artery Embolisation procedure performed by the VIRQ team.
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