Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)

Safe, effective, non-surgical treatment for enlarged prostate (BPH)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland and is one of the most common health problems experienced by men, affecting half of all men over 50 years of age. Its primary symptoms are the urgent need to urinate, and the need to urinate more frequently—especially at night. It can also result in a weak urine stream, difficulty to begin urinating, and the inability to empty the bladder completely.

Left untreated, BPH can ultimately lead to painful urination, incontinence, reduced sex drive, and even erectile dysfunction. One study showed that 95% of men with moderate BPH symptoms are unhappy and do not wish to spend the rest of their lives suffering from them.

What causes BPH?

As a man ages, his prostate gland increases in size as a normal part of aging. For many men, the growing prostate can put pressure on the bladder and urethra, causing BPH symptoms.

Unfortunately, BPH will not go away on its own. But when the symptoms of BPH start affecting your quality of life, you have options!

More Services

Treating BPH

In some cases, conservative treatment, such as medication and lifestyle changes, can reduce BPH symptoms. If these do not work to your satisfaction, your doctor may recommend a type of surgery called transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP. This surgery removes a portion of the prostate gland in order to reduce symptoms.

Unfortunately, complications of TURP surgery are common. Possible complications include inflammation, infection, bleeding, bladder injury, loss of erections, and retrograde ejaculation.

A newer and minimally invasive procedure, called prostate artery embolization (PAE), is a better option for many men with BPH. It requires no more than a small nick in your skin in the leg or the wrist. There is no hospital stay or general anesthesia required, and you can resume normal activities immediately following the procedure.

How is PAE performed?

Using fluoroscopy (x-ray) imaging, our interventional radiologist guides a tiny catheter into your bloodstream through a nick in your arm or your leg. The catheter is advanced to the arteries that supply blood to your prostate. Tiny beads called ‘microspheres’ are then injected into the arteries, where they become lodged in smaller arteries surrounding the gland. This reduces blood flow to the prostate, which causes it to shrink and symptoms to go away over the following few days to weeks.

The doctors at IntelliRad perform PAE procedures on an outpatient basis at leading hospitals and medical centers throughout South Florida. We are among the most experienced doctors in the region in performing this procedure. The clinical success rates of BPH are equal to or better than surgery, but with no urinary incontinence or sexual dysfunction reported. In fact, PAE is the only minimally invasive procedure for BPH which is shown to improve sexual performance in men.

PAE is covered by most insurance and Medicare. If you believe you are a candidate for this procedure, talk to your doctor or call our clinic to schedule a consultation.

Intellirad Clinic