Role of Prostatic Artery Embolization in Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Abstract

Prostatic artery embolization is one of the most recent emerging and sophisticated interventional radiology procedures. Prostatic artery embolization is a minimally invasive procedure in management of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia after failure of medical management. It represents a safer choice as compared to the usual surgical procedures used in this cases. Under local anesthesia via femoral artery puncture catheter navigation is performed under fluoroscopy guidance to catheterize prostatic arteries followed by embolization of the prostatic bed aiming to reduction of the prostatic size and thus reliving the lower urinary tract symptoms. The aim of our study was to evaluate efficacy of prostate artery embolization in managing benign prostatic hyperplasia presented with clinically significant lower urinary tract symptoms. Prostatic artery embolization was performed on 20 benign prostatic hyperplasia patients as an outpatient procedure with technical success 100%, showing no major adverse effects. The procedure after 3 months resulted in an average reduction of prostate volume of 34.4% and improved International Prostate Symptom Score and quality-of-life score by a mean of 8.33 points and 2.7 points, respectively.